


STONEWALL JACKSON 



Address of Colonel R. P. Chewr 



CHIEF OF HORSE ARTILLERY 
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 



DELIVERED AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, 

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, ON THE UNVEILING 

OF EZEKIEL'S STATUE OF GENERAL 

T. J. JACKSON, JUNE 19, 1912 



LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY NEWS PRINT 

1912 




STONEWALL JACKSON IN 1362 



STONEWALL JACKSON 



Address of Colonel R. P. Chew 



CHIEF OF HORSE ARTILLERY 
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 



DELIVERED AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, 

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, ON THE UNVEILING 

OF EZEKIEL'S STATUE OF GENERAL 

T. J. JACKSON, JUNE 19, 1912 



LEXINGTON. VIRGINIA 

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY NEWS PRINT 

1912 



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Ma-*^ Z 



fCT ? 181« 



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Stonewall Jackson 



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I 



Fellow Comrades, Fellow Alumni, Cadets of the V. M. I., 
Ladies and Gentlemen : 

We are here today to witness the unveiling of a monu- 
ment to commemorate the great character and deeds of Gen- 
eral Thomas Jonathan Jackson. The Board of Visitors hav- 
ing charge of these ceremonies have done me a great honor 
by inviting me to deliver the address upon this occasion. 
Had this Board consulted my wishes, someone else more cap- 
able would have been selected to perform this difficult task. 
When we come to talk of Stonewall Jackson, we treat of a 



J(^ character as remarkable as any in all history. As the war 
^ progressed, in the short period of two years, this great sol- 
dier advanced to the front rank of the great captains of 



x^> modern times, and after his death was esteemed by compe- 
^ tent military authorities in England, one of the five greatest 
>5 Generals of the English speaking race, Wellington, Washing- 
*^_^on, Lee, Jackson. I know how impossible it would be for 
me to say anything that would add to his fame or reputation, 
and I will therefore confine myself to the impressions I 
formed of his character and habits as they appeared to me 
when I knew him as a cadet at the Virginia Military Insti- 
tute and during the war, when I followed him, especially 
through the famous Valley campaign. It was not my good 
fortune to know him in his family circle, but I met him fre- 
quently at headquarters, and upon a number of occasions 
upon the battlefield. As a second classman at t^e Institute, 
I recited to him for seven months and had the opportunity, 
like all other of his pupils to observe the manners and hab- 
its of this great man. 

So much has been written about him, especially by Colonel 
Henderson, it would be a difficult matter to say anything that 



would be new or interesting to the minds of the older 
persons here present; but there are many young people 
here today, who have not had the opportunity of read- 
ing extensively the several histories of this illustrious 
man, and if you will bear with me, I will as swiftly as 
possible, talk of his youth and early traditions, and then 
review the great campaigns and battles in which he bore 
so conspicuous a part. 

Early Life 

Jackson was of Scotch extraction. His greatgrandfather, 
John Jackson, came to America from Scotland about 1750, 
and took up his residence in the wilds of the western part 
of Virginia, now Harrison county. He was capable and 
thrifty, and died leaving a considerable fortune to his chil- 
dren. The subject of our address was born in Clarksburg 
Jan. 21, 1824. His father, a lawyer of ability inherited a 
good fortune, but by bad management, soon dissipated it 
leaving his widow and three children, two sons and a 
daughter, unprovided for and dependent upon relatives. 
Several years after his death, Mrs. Jackson married a Cap- 
tain Woodson, and being unable to support her children in 
comfort, she sent her two boys to an uncle. A year later 
she died. She was a woman of fine character and her re- 
ligious fervor made a lasting impression upon her children. 
Jackson never forgot his mother, and always referred to 
her in after life with the deepest affection. The treatment 
he received at the hands of his uncle not being such as he 
thought due him, he bundled up his clothes, hung them 
across his shoulder on the end of a stick, and walked seven- 
teen miles to the home of another uncle. This action in one 
so young gave evidence of great determination. This Jack- 
son was a man of large means, owning several farms and 
mills, and young Jackson was put to work at lumbering and 
tilling the soil. His uncle raised fast horses, had a race 



track, and he was soon taught to ride as a jockey. He is 
said to have become very expert, and was able to bring out 
the best qualities in any horse he rode. In later life he has 
been spoken of as an ungraceful horseman, leaning for- 
ward instead of sitting erect. This was probably due to 
his early training as all jockies ride with short stirrups, 
and lean forward toward the neck of the horse. He is de- 
scribed as a thoughtful and affectionate boy, always truth- 
ful and polite. As he grew to early manhood, he was 
troubled with a mysterious form of dyspepsia, and thinking 
open air exercise would be helpful, at the age of seventeen 
secured the position of deputy sheriff, and in the execution 
of his duties was thoroughly accurate and punctual. 

West Point 

A vacancy occurring at West Point when he was nineteen 
years of age, he at once made application for it. He was 
aided by all of his acquaintances, and the member of con- 
gress from his district bent every energy to secure him the 
appointment. He was summoned to Washington, and in- 
troduced to the secretary of war. Although poorly prepared 
to enter West Point, the secretary was so favorably im- 
pressed with his courage and determination he handed him 
his appointment. Hurrying away to West Point, in July, 
1842, he was admitted to that institution. Somewhat awk- 
ward, reticent and plainly dressed, the impression he made 
upon his fellow cadets was not favorable, and they at once 
commenced to play practical jokes upon him, but his im- 
perturbable good nature and manly bearing soon won their 
respect and he was not long subject to their torture. He 
immediately devoted himself to his studies, and it is said 
vv^hen the lights were put out, would lie on the floor and 
study by the light of the fire. By intense application, 
backed by a determination tosucceed, he passed through 
the several courses, finally graduating seventeenth in a class 



6 

of seventy. He was regarded by the other students as some- 
what odd in manner and habits. He would sit bolt upright 
in his seat while studying, and when he had mastered his 
task, would continue sitting in that position, gazing at the 
wall or ceiling. It is said he thought leaning over his 
desk increased his dyspepsia. He was doubtless also direct- 
ing his thoughts to some problem, and was developing the 
great facility he exhibited later in life for concentrating 
his mind upon a given subject. 

War in Mexico 

Jackson was brevetted Second Lieutenant of Artillery on 
June 2, 1846. The war with Mexico had begun and several 
battles had been fought, when General Scott, in 1847, took 
command of the naval and military expeditions against 
Mexico. The regiment to which he belonged was assigned 
to General Scott's army, and was under fire at the battle of 
Vera Cruz. On account of his bravery, he was promoted to 
First Lieutenant of Artillery after the battle of Cerro Gordo, 
and assigned to Magruder's Battery. At the battle of 
Churubusco this gallant young officer came prominently into 
notice, and Captain Magruder in speaking of Jackson in 
his official report said: "In a few moments Lieutenant 
Jackson, commanding the second section of the battery, 
which had opened fire upon the enemy who were in a posi- 
tion on the right, hearing our fire still further in front, ad- 
vanced in handsome style, and kept up the fire with equal 
bravery and effect. His conduct was equally conspicuous 
during the whole day, and I cannot too highly commend 
him to the Major General's favorable consideration." At 
the battle of Chapultepec, Magruder was ordered to send a 
section of artillery to support an infantry attack. Jackson 
was given charge of the section, and had to advance overa 
position full of difficulties, and was compelled to keep the road 
on account of the marshy ground on each side. The Mexican 



artillery in fr nt and cannon on the heights of Chapultepec 
opened a terrific fire. It wa3 impossible for infantry to ad- 
vance. When Jackson arrived on the ground, his horses 
were shot dov^n. The enemy had cut a ditch across the 
road, and in order to reply to their fire, his men lifted a 
gun over this obstruction by hand. His cannoneers be- 
haved badly, and left the young lieutenant standing ex- 
posed to this terrible fire. Orders were sent to him to retire. 
He sent word back if they would send him fifty men, he 
would charge the breast works in front of him. Jackson, 
with one man stood his ground, and continued to fire upon 
the Mexicans. All his gunners save one man, and an escort 
sent him as a support, fled to the rear; still he remained and 
with the aid of this one man continued to load and fire his 
gun. Captain Magruder coming up and observing him 
standing alone, immediately had a second gun lifted over 
the ditch, and the infantry encouraged by the gallantry of 
Jackson and his cannoneers rallied and charging carried 
the breastworks. The infantry continued to advance, and 
Jackson's guns kept their position on the firing line. This 
was an opportunity for which he had longed, and when it 
came he was ambitious to display his soldierly instinct and 
to become the rallying point for the rest of the army. Af- 
ter the battle of Contreras he was promoted to the rank of 
Captain. His gallant behavior at Chapultepec was men- 
tioned in the dispatch of the Comm.ander-in-Chief, and he 
was publicly complimented for his courage. Within eighteen 
months from the time he was assigned to his regiment of 
artillery, he was brevetted Major. He had little opportunity 
in the war with Mexico to display his military genius, the 
sphere in which he ov>erated being a contracted one, but he 
attracted great attention by his unusual courage and energy. 
He came out of the war with a reputation second to that 
of no young officer, and the taste of battle he had had there, 
doubtless spurred his ambition to higher achievement, if 



8 

opportunity should offer. The dull routine of camp life 
being distasteful to him, after the termination of 
hostilities, he spent several months in the City of Mexico. 
It is said these were very pleasant months to him, and that 
he came near falling in love with a beautiful senorita. The 
young soldier, stern and relentless in battle, often took part 
in the festivities indulged in by the young people of the 
capitol city. It is even said he learned to dance, and in 
later life, for his wife's amusement, would go through the 
Mexican dance with considerable grace. His appearance, 
from a daguerreotype taken about this time, was that of a fine 
looking young man. His forehead was broad, his eye clear, 
and intelligent, his nose straight and well formed, his face 
terminating in a jaw of great strength. 

Jackson at the Virginia Military Institute 

Growing weary of the monotony of camp life, in March, 
1851, he made application for and was appointed instructor 
of Artillery Tactics and professor of Natural Philosophy at 
the Virginia Military Institute. 

My first acquaintance with General Jackson commenced 
in 1859, when I entered the V. M. I. The John Brown raid 
occurring in 1859, he took charge of two pieces of artillery 
sent to Charles Town to guard Brown until his execution. I 
happened to be one of the cadets who served with these 
guns, and recollect his drilling us in the streets of that 
place. I recited to General Jackson, and saw him daily 
from September, 1860, to April, 1861. He appeared to me 
at that time a calm and determined man, giving his whole 
thought and attention to the matter before him. He was 
not what you would call a graceful man, but he was a very 
good looking person. He was too intense a man to be what 
is called genial, though I have seen him often with a de- 
lightful smile upon his face. We have it from the best 
authority that in his family circle he was gentle, amiable 




STONEWALL JACKSON WHEN HE LEFT MEXICO 



and thoroughly companionable. He was a man of perfect 
truth and sincerity and so sensitive about misrepresenta- 
tion it is stated he walked a mile and a half through the 
rain one night to correct a statement about an incident that 
occurred between two cadets, which he had represented as 
taking place on the lawn, when as a matter of fact it had 
occurred on the porch. This might seem like an exagger- 
ated effort to keep in line with the perfect truth, but it 
was characteristic of the man. He never dealt in misrep- 
resentations, and was never known to dissemble. We have 
stories of a number of odd things he did, no doubt largely 
exaggerated, but all these are mere cobwebs to be brushed 
aside when we come into the blaze of his wonderful genius 
and into the light of his remarkable achievements. 

While at the Institute, he was a great student of military 
history. He admired Napoleon above all other soldiers and 
became thoroughly conversant with his campaigns, his 
maxims of war, and particularly the strategy he adopted. 
When the war commenced, he was well equipped to com- 
mand armies on the widest fields. He had laid the founda- 
tion for his wonderful career. 

Richmond— 1861 

In April, 1861, he went to Richmond with the corps of 
cadets to assist in drilling the troops. He had not been 
there long before he was appointed Colonel in the Virginia 
service, and ordered to Harpers Ferry to take command un- 
til General Joseph E. Johnston could get there. A Brigade 
of Virginia regiments was soon organized and Colonel Jack- 
son assigned to its command. On June 17th, he was com- 
missioned a Brigadier General, being at this time thirty- 
seven years of age. He had been ten years at the V. M. I. 
and had had no further military experience since the termi- 
nation of the Mexican war. By careful and prudent exer- 
cise, he had improved his health and was in excellent physi- 



10 

cal and mental training. While regretting the necessity 
for the war, he was wholly in sympathy with the South and 
stood ready to give Virginia and the Confederacy his best 
talent and best efforts. 

A Strict Disciplinarian 

He was an excellent disciplinarian; never harsh, but de- 
manding obedience to his orders. During all my service 
under General Jackson, whilst he was exacting as a soldier, 
which was eminently proper, I never knew him to be rough 
in manner and never rude. He was invariably polite, and 
always a thorough gentleman. He was a trained soldier, 
and no officer knew better than he that it was useless to 
fight an army inferior in equipment and numbers against 
great odds unless the men were disciplined and taught to 
be obedient to orders. He marched his soldiers great dis- 
tances, it is true, and required them to do arduous service, 
but this he believed to be necessary to success, and was in- 
tended to save lives by surprising his foes and thus enable 
his men to overthrow largely superior numbers. 

He exacted obedience to his orders, and punished severely 
any soldier who violated them. For instance, it is told that 
D. H. Hill sent a man to his headquarters under arrest with 
a note to General Jackson saying the man persisted in 
burning rails, and he had not been able to cure him of the 
habit, and would like the general to try his hand on him. 
Jackson asked him why he persisted in violating orders. 
The soldier replied, he had been in D. H. Hill's command 
for eight months, and had never gotten a good look at Gen- 
eral Jackson, and he knew if he burnt the rails he would 
be arrested and sent to headquarters and would then have 
a chance to get a good look at "Stonewall" Jackson. Gen- 
eral Jackson called his orderly and told him to buck the man, 
and set him on an empty barrel in front of his tent; to 
throw (.pen the flies of the tent and leave him there for an 



11 

hour, and thus he would have a chance to get a good, long 
look at him. 

The Bravest are the Tenderest 

That he was kind and thoughtful of his soldiers is evi- 
denced by his refusal to retire from in front of Kernstown 
until all the wounded were cared for. Again, his affection 
for his men was displayed upon one occasion, when on the 
march to Manassas, he was informed the soldiers of the bri- 
gade, worn out by the march, had fallen asleep on the 
ground and there was no guard about the camp. He re- 
plied: "Let them sleep. I will watch the camp tonight. " 
He rode around the camp during the entire nigbt, a lone 
but vigilant sentinel, while the men rested and slept. 

"Athwart the shadows of the vale 
Slumbered the men of might. 
And one lone sentry paced his rounds 
To watch the camp that night." 

Stonewall Brigade at Manassas 

His Brigade consisted of the Second Virginia, Colonel Al- 
len; the Fourth Virginia, Colonel Preston; the Fifth Vir- 
ginia, Colonel Harper; the Twenty-seventh Virginia, Col- 
onel Echols, and the Thirty-third Virginia, Colonel Cum- 
mings. The Rockbridge Battery commanded by Rev. Dr. 
Pendleton was also attached to this Brigade. This Brigade 
was composed of the finest material, a large majority of the 
men having been born and raised in the Shenandoah Val- 
ley. The privates were Intelligent, and became as the war 
progressed, keenly alive to what should be done by soldiers 
under all circumstances. This Brigade distinguished itself 
in almost all the battles in Virginia, and no body of men in 
any war ever won a greater reputation for courage and skill 
in battle. 

Early in June, 1861, General Patterson had crossed the 



12 

Potomac river with a large army. General Jackson had 
command of the advance force, and had some fierce engage- 
ments with him. At this time McDowell, commanding the 
army in front of Washington, advanced on Manassas, and 
Johnston determined at once to move his command to that 
point. Jackson's Brigade was in front. He reached Ma- 
nassas on the 20th of July, and took position near the Henry 
house, and was deployed on the eastern edge of the hill, in a 
belt of pines, which afforded good shelter for his troops. 
When the next day the Brigades of Bee, Bartow and Evans 
were being driven back in considerable confusion, Jackson's 
men held their position, and Bee, in order to rally his 
troops, pointed in the direction of the Virginia Regiments 
and said: "Look at Jackson's men, standing like a stone- 
wall! Rally behind the Virginians!" The name of " Stone- 
wall" was at once applied to Jackson, and will cling to him 
throughout all time. Two Federal batteries supported 
by infantry advanced in close proximity to the position held 
by the Thirty-third Regiment, commanded by Colonel Cum- 
mings, and that officer immediately charged, shooting down 
gunners and horses. Stuart had just made a dash upon the 
flank of this infantry, and thrown them into confusion. 
Several of the guns escaped, but the remainder were aban- 
doned and left about half way between the opposing lines. 
The enemy rallied about their guns again, but were driven 
off by a part of the Second Virginia Regiment. 

The Rebel Yell 

General Jackson, under fire, rode slowly up and down in 
front of his regiment, and as the enemy again advanced, 
gave the order, "Reserve your fire till they are within fifty 
yards, then fire and give them the bayonet; and when you 
charge yell like furies!" The Federals advanced cheering, 
and most of our batteries were compelled to retire. Sud- 
denly the Stonewall Brigade sprang from the ground., im- 



13 

mediately in front of them, and after firing a volley, charged 
bayonets, shouting fiercely. This unexpected attack dis- 
concerted the Federals and caused them to fall back in con- 
fusion over the hill. 

A Change of Command 

On Nov. 4th, General Jackson was assigned to the com- 
mand of the Shenandoah Valley district. His Brigade at 
that time was not ordered with him, and the parting be- 
tween himself and his soldiers was full of feeling. They 
had learned to have the greatest confidence in his skill, and 
courage. The regiments were drawn up in line, and Gen- 
eral Jackson, riding in front of them bade them farewell 
in the following eloquent address: "I am not here to make 
a speech," he said, "but simply to say farewell. I first 
met you at Harper's Ferry at the commencement of the war, 
and I cannot take leave of you without giving expression 
to my admiration of your conduct from that day to this, 
whether on the march, in the bivouac, or on the bloody 
plains of Manassas, where you gained the well deserved 
reputation of having decided the fate of the battle. 

"Throughout the broad extent of the country through 
which you have marched, by your respect for the rights of 
property of citizens, you have shown that you are soldiers, 
not only to defend, but able and willing both to defend and 
protect. You have already won a brilliant reputation 
throughout the army of the whole Confederacy; and I 
trust, in the future, by your deeds in the field and by the as- 
sistance of the same kin;I Providence which has hitherto 
favoured our cause, you will win more victories and add 
lustre to the reputation you now enjoy. You have already 
gained a proud position in the future history of this our 
second War of Independence. I shall look with great 
anxiety to your future movements, and I trust whenever I 
shall hear of the First Brigade on the field of battle, it will 



14 
be of still nobler deeds achieved, and higher reputation 



won 



»" 



Here he paused, and throwing the reins on his horse's 
neck, in tones full of emotion continued: 

"In the Army of the Shenandoah you were the First Bri- 
gade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Bri- 
gade! In the Second Corps of the army you were the First 
Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of 
your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing 
you~will be handed down to posterity as the First Brigade 
in this our second War of Independence. Farewell!" 

Turner Ashby 

When General Jackson reached the Valley, he found a few 
regiments of militia armed with flintlock muskets and a 
few squadrons of cavalry. The cavalry was commanded by 
Turner Ashby who afterwards won for himself great celeb- 
rity as a cavalry leader. He was elected Colonel of the 
regiment doing picket duty from the vicinity of Romney 
to the Point of Rocks, and had attracted attention by his 
desperate fight at Kelly's Island in the Potomac where he 
charged across the river, in the face of a heavy fire and at- 
tacked and dislodged some infantry from the bushes on that 
island. Ashby served with Jackson, leading his advance and 
covering his retreat until killed near Harrisonburg, on June 
6, 1862. This officer was known for his desperate courage, 
dash and daring in battle. Thoroughly patriotic and devot- 
ed to the cause of the South, i:e was ever ready to give 
battle to the enemy, and if necessary, give his life in de- 
fence of his country. He was vigilant as a hawk, and in 
him were blended the finest traits of a soldier. He was 
heroic and patriotic; his manner gentle and his character 
pure and chaste. General Jackson said of him in his 
official report, his sagacity was intuitive in divining the pur- 
poses and intentions of the enemy. A recent author has 



15 

written of him that "he alor.e handled cavalry more as cav- 
alry should be fought than any man since the days of 
Murat. " His men were armed with pistol and sabre and 
were all superb horsemen. Ashby himself was one of the 
finest horsemen in the State of Virginia, and although not 
a large man, when mounted, presented a commanding ap- 
pearance. His command was increased gradually until he 
had twenty-seven companies of cavalry, and in addition to 
this, a battery of horse artillery, organized by Milton 
Rouse, Jim Thompson and myself, all cadets of the V. M. I., 
and which served with him until his death. 

We were youths of seventeen, eighteen and nineteen 
years of age. After we raised the company. Rouse and I 
called on General Jackson, and told him we had organized a 
battery. His face wore a quizzical expression, as he said: 
"Young men, now that you have your company, what are 
you going to do with it?" There was no reply to make to 
this as the question was more of a puzzle to Rouse and my- 
self than to him. 

Jackson at W^inchester 

Jackson established his headquarters at Winchester and 
remained subordinate to General Joseph E. Johnston, whose 
headquarters were at Manassas. About this time he was 
promoted to Major-General in the Confederate service. At 
his request Loring's Division was sent from Western Vir- 
ginia and reached him on Christmas day. The Stonewall 
Brigade had also been sent to him, and in a short time, he 
gathered together 9,000 men. The enemy had troops posted 
from Harper's Ferry to Romney, there being at the latter 
place 5,000 men. General Jackson conceived the idea of 
clearing this country of Federal troops and doubtless had in 
view another object, which was to have his soldiers see ac- 



16 

tive and arduous service in order to season them for the 
great campaigns which were to follow. 

On Jan. 1, 1862, he left Winchester with 9,000 troops. 
His purpose was to destroy the dam across the Potomac 
river, and tear up the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, so as to 
sever communications with the West. By rapid marches he 
proposed to deal with the enemy in detail. The weather 
was so bright and warm, no one thought in a day or two 
they would encounter a fierce storm of wind and snow. The 
enemy escaped from Bath, and after shelling them at Han- 
cock, he moved toward Romney. The Federal troops en- 
camped there made good their eicape, retiring rapidly in 
the direction of Cumberland. Whilst he cleared his front 
of Federal troops, the expedition was not very fruitful of 
results. Great dissatisfaction broke out in Loring's com- 
mand, which was left at Romney, and upon application to 
the secretary of war, a peremptory command was sent by 
him to General Jackson: "Our news indicates that a move- 
ment is making to cut off General Loring's command. 
Order him back immediately." General Jackson felt indig- 
nant, as he had not been consulted, and feeling that he could 
no longer effectively command the army, tendered his res- 
ignation, feeling it impossible to maintain discipline in his 
command if such interference was tolerated. General Jos- 
eph E. Johnston urged him to withdraw his resignation. 
Governor Letcher persuaded the secretary of war not to ac- 
cept the resignation, and got from him the assurance that 
it was not the intention of the government to interfere with 
the plans of General Jackson. Jackson then withdrew his 
lesignation and General Loring was ordered to another de- 
partment. He remained with his Brigade in Winchester 
during the winter of '61 and '62. His wife was with him, 
and amid the delightful society of that hospitable city they 
spent, as Mrs. Jackson said, "as happy a winter as ever 
falls to the lot of mortals upon earth. ' ' 



17 

Jackson, here as usual, kept his men hard at drill, and con- 
fined them as closely as possible to their camp. He especially 
prohibited the use of spirituous liquors, and gave his officers 
strict orders to keep the men out of Winchester as much as 
possible. The soldiers, used every device to get out of 
camp and into the city. Several members of the Second 
Virginia Regiment w^ere given permission by their colonel 
on one occasion, to go to Winchester to attend church. They 
failed to come back on Sunday and remained away several 
days. Upon their return, they were lectured by their col- 
onel for their absence from camp, when one of them. Lieu- 
tenant George Flagg, reminded him it was a protracted 
meeting. 

General McClellan was assembling an immense army of 
200,000 men about Washington, and Shields, a fine old sol- 
dier, was placed in command of the troops from Fredericks- 
burg to Romney. He had under his command about 46,000 
men. About 40,000 Federals had assembled under General 
Banks along the line of the Potomac. Mrs. Jackson had 
gone back to her father's home and all of his baggage and 
stores were sent to Mt. Jackson. Instead of retiring, how- 
ever, Jackson marched his troops through Winchester, in 
the direction of the enemy. Late in February General 
Banks crossed the river at Harper's Ferry, and his army of 
about 40,000 men with eighty pieces of artillery, threatened 
General Jackson's devoted band. Jackson had with him at 
this time three Brigades of infantry, 600 cavalry and twen- 
ty-seven guns. This was an insignificant body of troops to 
oppose so great an army as that commanded by General 
Banks, but his army was of the finest material. They had 
been accustomed to hardy exercise from boyhood, and were 
familiar with the use of the gun. The cavalry came from 
the Valley and the Piedmont country mainly, and were fine 
horsemen, full of dash and energy. As horsemen thev were 
far superior to the Federal cavalry, one of whom said : 



18 

"It is impossible to catch them. They leap fences and walls 
like deer. Neither our men nor our horses are trained in 
this way. ' ' 

General Banks soon commenced his advance from Harpers 
Ferry. Jackson offered him battle on the 7th and again on 
the 11th of March, keeping his men under arms all day, 
hoping General Banks would assail him. The latter ad- 
vanced cautiously however, keeping at a comfortable dis- 
tance. On the 11th Jackson abandoned Winchester with 
great reluctance, as he had contemplated a night attack, 
and had called together his principal officers for a council 
of war. They did not approve his plan, and the attack was 
given up. Dr. McGuire, his chief surgeon, says his face, 
as he rode away from the town, was fairly ablaze with 
wrath, and he said in a severe tone: "That is the last 
council of war I will ever hold." He fell back to Strasburg 
about eighteen miles from Winchester. Banks satisfied 
himself with occupying Winchester. He was reinforced on 
the 18th by Shields' Division of about 12,000, and that gen- 
eral was sent to Strasburg. Jackson retired slowly up the 
Valley as far as Mt. Jackson. Ashby with his cavalry and 
battery, disputed the advance of the enemy from every hill. 
About the middle of March, General Banks was ordered to 
move with the bulk of his army to Manassas. Shields with 
his division was left in Winchester. On March 20th, Wil- 
liams' Division commenced its march to Manassas June 
tion. On the evening of the 21st, Ashby drove in the pick- 
ets near Winchester, and received information that the 
Federal troops were all leaving that place. General Shields, 
who remained there, had carefully concealed his division. 
On the 22nd Ashby again drove in the pickets to within a 
mile of the city. Riding out on a hill, a little south of 
Winchester, General Shields and his staff were observed by 
one of the gunners of Chew's battery. He fired a shot 
which exploded in front of the group, a fragment wounding 



19 

General Shields in the arm. General Ashby received in- 
formation from a source he considered thoroughly reliable 
that only four regiments of infantry, some guns and caval- 
ry remained in Winchester. 

Battle of Kernstown 

All this was transmitted to General Jackson, who imme- 
diately advanced and camped the first night at Strasburg. 
Four companies of infantry were frequently assigned to 
Ashby for his support. They were commanded by Captain 
Nadenbousch of P^Iartinsburg, and on the 23rd, these four 
companies were sent to Ashby to support his cavalry. 
Shields, who was not < n the battlefield, sent word to General 
Kimball to advance to the vicinity of Kernstown. His 
army consisted of about 7,000 troops. Ashby who contest- 
ed the advance of the enemy, made a sharp attack with the 
four companies of infantry, advancing through a heavy 
piece of timber, when he encountered a full Brigade of the 
enemy. They were compelled to give way before superior 
numbers. The pursuit by the enemy was checked by a well 
directed fire from Ashby's guns. He then took up a position 
on a hill to the east of the Valley pike, and maintained it 
during the entire day. General Jackson arrived on the field 
ab lut 1 o'clock, and immediately made his disposition for 
battle. The Northern troops were commanded by General 
Kimball who had formed his line of battle east of the pike. 
Later he extended his line to the west and planted his guns 
on Prichard's hill. Ashby had attracted to the east of the 
pike a large force and af i:er looking the ground over, Jack- 
son determined to take a position on the ridge west of the 
turnpike, and endeavor to turn the enemy's right flank. 
Colonel Burke's Brigade was left on thepike to support Ash- 
by; Jackson carried Fulkerson's Brigade and part of Carpen- 
ter's Battery to attack the enemy on his right. On this 
march the infantry and artillery were very much exposed to 



20 

a heavy artillery fire from Prichard's hill. Garnett's Bri- 
gade followed by a safer route. The two other guns of 
Carpenter's with McLaughlin's and Waters' Batteries and a 
part of Burke's Brigade were also ordered to our left. The 
batteries were located on the ridge, and after a severe en- 
gagement drove the Federal guns from their Dcsition. The 
Twenty-seventh and Twenty-first Virginia Regiments and 
Fulkerson's Brigade moved forward, Fulkerson on the ex- 
treme left. These troops gained a strong position behind a 
stone fence. The center of the line was held by Garnett's Bri- 
gade, and the Irish battalion, posted in the edge of a woods. 
Tyler's Federal Brigade was thrown forward and ordered to 
attack our left flank. He reached his position about 3:30 and 
made a bold attack upon Fulkerson. After a severe fight, 
he was repulsed, when the rest of the Federal troops made 
an attack upon the Confederate centre held by Garnett. A 
desperate struggle ensued here, lasting about two hours. I 
think the roar of the muskery and artillery was the most in- 
cessant I ever heard. Reenforcements were sent from Sulli- 
van's and Kimball's Brigades and afresh attack made along 
the entire line. Jackson still persisted in turning the right 
flank of the enemy and for this purpose ordered the Fifth, 
Forty-second and Forty-eighth Virginia Regiments in that 
direction. Before they reached the position he intended 
them to take the attack directed by Tyler, had shaken the 
Confederate centre and General Garnett, his ammunition 
exhausted, feeling he could no longer hold his position, 
ordered his line to retire. This was done without General 
Jackson's knowledge. The retreat of General Garnett's 
troops compelled Fulkerson to withdraw from the strong po- 
sition he then held. Jackson at this time discovering the 
retreat of Garnett rode to where the troops were falling 
back, and endeavored to rally them. The Fifth Virginia 
supported by the Forty-second, was thrown into position to 
protect the retreat, but our lines being envelop edon both 



21 

flanks it was impossible to stem the tide, and the army was 
pressed back, and finally forced from the battlefield. That 
evening, Jackson halted and dismounted at the campfire of 
the Horse Artillery, and stood gazing into the fire. It was 
a cold night, and a fire felt comfortable. A member of the 
company who had some reputation for curiosity, after 
watching the general for some time said to him: "General, 
we had a very hot time today." General Jackson, fixing 
upon him his piercing eyes, said deliberately: "Yes, sir, 
bat you can expect a much warmer time tomorrow. ' ' 

Twelve hundred men were killed and wounded in this 
battle, about equally divided. The enemy captured two 
guns, and several hundred prisoners. 

Jackson was dissatisfied with the conduct of General Gar- 
nett, who had ordered his troops to retire without notifying 
his commander. He was preparing to envelop the right 
flank of the enemy and always insisted had Garnett held his 
position a little longer, and, if necessary, given the enemy 
the bayonet, he would have won the battle. John Esten 
('ooke is authority for the statement that Ashby told Colonel 
Patten an order had been sent from Winchester for the Fed- 
eral army to retire, and that that order was received a few 
minutes after our lines broke. He placed General Garnett 
under arrest. The sympathy of the ofl[icers and men gener- 
ally seemed to be with Garnett. He was a gallant oflicer 
and beloved by his men. Later he was tried and unanimous- 
ly acquitted. He fell gallantly leading a charge at Gettys- 
burg. This action of General Jackson rendered him unpop- 
ular for some time with his army. His conduct was con- 
sidered harsh, but after Jackson's wonderful fight at Second 
Manassas and later at Antietam, where he held his own 
against overwhelming numbers, it would seem the time 
would hardly ever arrive when an officer should retire with- 
out orders from his superior. Although our troops were re- 
pulsed at Kernstown, the battle had an excellent effect. 



22 

It was not believed with 3,000 men, Jackson would be bold 
enough to assail Shields; and Williams' Division was im- 
mediately ordered back to Winchester. 

Retreat Up The Valley 

Mr. Lincoln, who was always in trepidation about the 
capture of the capitol, strengthened the forces around Wash- 
ington. McDowell, with 40,000 men was posted at Fred- 
ericksburg, and General Banks was sent to the Valley to 
confront Jackson, who retired slowly, pursued by the ene- 
my. Ashby fought them with his guns at every turn, and 
harassed and annoyed their advance in every conceivable 
way. General H. G. Gordon of Massachusetts, a comrade 
of Jackson at West Point, pursued with great vigor. The 
Brigade commanded by this officer, and that commanded by 
General Tyler, gave us a great deal of trouble on many occa- 
sions. They were able soldiers, and both Brigades were 
made up of gallant men. General Banks, who was constant- 
ly fearful of attack, had visions of large reinforcements 
from Johnston's army. He renewed his pursuit about the 
1st of April and drove Ashby 's cavalry back to the vicinity 
of Edinburg. Banks' army and Ashby's cavalry remained 
confronting each other at Edinburg for over three weeks. 
Ashby was skirmishing frequently during each day, haras- 
ing the enemy with his artillery. Jackson's camp was 
about six miles in the rear. While there, he often rode to 
the front, and upon one occasion met Colonel Ashby, and 
dismounting held a consultation with him and proceeded to 
write a dispatch. A shell burst immediatly in front of 
them, and when the smoke cleared, those present expected 
to see them dead or. wounded but both escaped unhurt. A 
few minutes afterwards, General Jackson rode up a hill 
where the guns were in action, and approaching close to 
where I was sitting, I congratulated him on his escape. 
He replied quickly: ''What is that, sir? What is that, 



23 . 

sir?" I then explained to him that I had heard a shell ex- 
ploded in front of where he stood with Colonel Ashby, and 
that they were in imminent danger. He i:eplied: "It is 
the first I have heard of it, sir. It is the first I have heard 
of it, sir." General Jackson's well known respect for the 
truth compelled me to believe this, but I could not help re- 
flecting, that when a shell exploded in close proximity to 
where I was, I was sure to be rather painfully conscious of 
it. 

Jackson increased his force, until by April 15th, he had a 
little over 6,000 men when he began his retreat to Harrison- 
burg. Banks, who had been also reinforced, made an ad- 
vance on the 17th, and reached Harrisonburg on the 22nd. 
In ten days, he had marched only thirty-five miles. 

Jackson at Swift Run Gap 

General Jackson, after reaching Harrisonburg, crossed the 
Shenandoah at Conrad's store, and went into camp in Elk 
Run Valley. He was not equal to fighting Banks in the open 
country between Harrisonburg and Staunton, but in this 
position, would be a constant threat to the safety of that 
general. With Banks advancing up the Valley, Milroy at 
McDowell, and Fremont moving up the South Branch Val- 
ley, it seemed that Staunton was doomed. General Ewell 
was encamped on the Upper Rappahannock with 8,000 men. 
General Edward Johnson, with a Brigade, had marched 
back to within a few miles of Staunton. General Lee who 
had been appointed to the command of the armies in Vir- 
ginia, wrote General Jackson that McDowell's advance to 
Fredericksburg, was a serious menace to Richmond, aug- 
menting McClellan's available force by 40,000 troops. He 
authorized General Jackson to use General Ewell's division 
in an attack on Banks in order to relieve the pressure on 
the capitol. Jackson ordered Ewell to move to Stannards- 
ville. He wrote to General Lee that by combining the two 



24 

forces, he hoped to fall on Banks. Lee replied giving- him 
full discretion, saying he was not competent, at so great a 
distance, to direct operations depending on circumstances 
unknown to him, but advising him when he dealt a blow, it 
should be sudden and heavy. Jackson adopted as his maxims 
of war "to mystify, mislead and surprise your enemy; after 
he has been defeated, to pursue him with the utmost vigor 
and as long as the endurance of the troops held out. To in- 
flict the greatest damage possible upon the defeated foe. 
Never to attack an enemy having superior forces, if it can 
be avoided, but to defeat him in detail, bringing always 
larger numbers to bear upon an inferior force." He suc- 
cessfully applied these maxims in the coming operations. 

The campaign that Jackson was about to begin was his 
own. He conceived the strategy employed, and executed it 
with his own tactics. Afterwards he remained in a position 
subordinate to General Lee, and it follows therefore that his 
fame as a great soldier must rest mainly upon his perform- 
ance here. 

Famous Valley Campaign 

Jackson, who had mapped out his famous Valley cam- 
paign, proceeded immediately to its execution. On the 
29th, instructing Ashby to make a demonstration against 
Banks at Harrisonburg, he left the Elk Run Valley, General 
Ewell taking his place, and marched up the river to Port 
Republic. The mud in the Valley was very deep, the roads 
terrible and it was with great difficulty the march could be 
made. On May 3rd he turned to the left and crossed the 
Blue Ridge mountains directing his march to a station on 
Meechums river. Every one was bewildered by Jackson's 
movements. Ewell who heard he had disappeared without 
giving him orders rode over to see Ashby and insisted that 
Jackson had lost his mind, saying that nothing else could 
account for his disrespect in not leaving him orders or giv- 



25 

ing him information as to his movements. Jackson was 
naturally of a secretive disposition. He knew, as do all 
other men, the most unsafe repository for a secret is a 
man. He knew if he gave valuable information to one man, 
it was likely to be communicated to another, and finally 
reach the whole army, and the enemy would soon get wind 
of it. He determined to keep his own secrets, to hold no 
council of war, where his plans would be divulged to others. 
He was taking this precaution when he pursued the route 
he did to strike Milroy at McDowell. For several days he 
was lost. No one knew his purpose except Ashby. Taking 
the train, he unloaded his troops at Staunton, and marched 
direct to attack Milroy at McDowell. That general had been 
reenforced by Schenk's Brigade and Fremont was marching 
to his aid. Milroy assailed our troops to be repulsed after a 
sharp fight, and in the night withdrew down the South 
Branch Valley. In the morning, Jackson discovering the 
enemy had disappeared, immediately pursued them. They 
adopted the novel expedient of setting fire to the woods, 
making pursuit most difficult. Turning back to McDowell, 
General Jackson crossed the mountain to Mt. Solon, and 
commenced the concentration of his troops at New Market 
and Luray. At this time the affairs of the Confederacy 
were enveloped in gloom. The battle of Shiloh had been 
fought and lost and General Albert Sidney Johnson killed. 
In front of Richmond, McClellan had assembled an army of 
100,000 men, and was expecting McDowell at Fredericks- 
burg to march to his assistance. McDowell with his fine 
army was to march on the 26th to take position on the right 
flank of McClellan. Mr. Lincoln and his secretary went to 
Fredericksburg to witness his grand review. Banks at this 
time was at Strasburg with 7,500 men and sixteen guns; 
1,500 men were stationed at Winchester, and Geary with 
2,000 was in Fauquier. Colonel Kenly with the First Mary- 



26 

land Regiment, numbering 1,000 men and two pieces of 
artillery, was at Front Royal. 

Such was the gloom and despondency, it has been said, 
upon good authority, preparations were being made to aban- 
don Richmond. In this hour of trouble, the people of the 
South rested their main hope upon the magnificent courage 
of tne armies in Virginia, and on the genius and ability of those 
two matchless soldiers, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jack- 
son. General Lee, who from this time on played upon the 
fears and timidity of the administration at Washington, 
wrote to General Jackson to make a speedy movement 
against Banks and drive him to the Potomac. With his own 
and Ewell's division he commenced his march north on May 
21st, Taylor's Louisiana Brigade leading. As the eagle, 
soaring aloft, discovering his unsuspecting prey darts with 
fell swoop upon his helpless victim, so Jackson by a rapid 
march to Front Royal fell upon and swept Kenly from his 
path on the morning of the 23rd, captured the bulk of his 
command, and pressed on to intercept Banks in his retreat 
upon Winchester. Ashby had been sent to Buckton, a sta- 
tion on the road to Strasburg. He captured the troops there, 
and moving on rapidly overtook Jackson at Cedarville. 
Banks, alarmed by the demonstration at Front Royal, 
had commenced his retreat on Winchester, leaving Strasburg 
at 10 a. m. on the 23rd of May. Ashby, followed by Tay- 
lor's Brigade and two guns of Poague's Battery, was order- 
ed to march to Middletown, on the Valley pike, in order to 
intercept Banks. The distance was seven miles, while 
Banks had only five miles to cover before reaching that 
town. Strong resistence was offered all along the route. 
The country was densely wooded, and the employment of 
cavalry was difficult. As soon, however, as Ashby came in 
view of the Valley pike, he emerged into an open country, 
and telling me to bring the battery of Horse x^rtillery along 
with the charge of the cavalry, dashed upon the enemy. 



27 

crowded in the pike. The infantry had passed on their re- 
treat to Winchester, but the cavalry, of which Banks had 
about 2,500, was crowded in the road between two stone 
fences. They were at best poor horsemen and very little 
able to cope with the splendid cavalry of the Confederate 
army. Ashby galloped to the fence, and with his own pistol 
emptied many saddles, while the guns, thrown into position 
within 100 yards of the road poured a deadly fire into the 
enemy. In his official report General Jackson uses the fol- 
lowing language: "In a few moments the turnpike which 
just before had teemed with life, presented a spectacle of 
carnage and destruction. The road was literally one mass 
of dying men and horses. Among the survivors the wildest 
confusion existed; they scattered in disorder in various 
directions, leaving 200 prisoners in the hands of the Con- 
federates. " General Ewell had been sent forward on the 
Front Royal road towards Winchester, and Jackson cross- 
ed over with his division to the Valley pike. He proceeded 
at once to put into effect one of his maxims, "after defeat- 
ing the enemy, press him with the utmost vigor, and pur- 
sue him as long as human endurance will permit." 

Ashby, with about 200 men, continued to press tbe enemy 
vigorously. When he reached the vicinity of Newtown, he 
formed his cavalry, and telling me to charge with the guns, 
made an assault upon the enemy's position and drove them 
through Newtown. He was at the front all night and was 
with General Jackson early in the morning. After we had 
driven the enemy through Winchester the Horse Artillery 
was hurried in pursuit, accompanied by Jackson himself. 
Ashby was then well to the front attacking the enemy when 
ever opportunity offered. Dr. Dabney got the impression 
he had gone off on an independent expedition toward Ber- 
ryviile. I do not know how he fell into this mistake, but 
all historians, following this assertion, have reflected upon 
Ashby for not having his cavalry in hand to charge Banks' 



28 

army after he was defeated. In modern warfare it has been 
demonstrated that small bodies of cavalry are ineffective in 
a charge against infantry and artillery. If he had had at 
his command a fine body of troopers it would have been 
different; but it would seem too much was expected of this 
magnificent officer on this occasion. 

Battle of Winchester 

Jackson pressed forward during the entire night and al- 
though the men had been without rations since breakfast 
on the 24th, save what they found in Banks' wagon train, 
he continued the march until 3 in the morning, when the 
head of his column had reached a point about a mile from 
Winchester, opposite the ridge on which Banks had formed 
his line of battle. Jackson had with him on the Valley pike 
his own division and two extra brigades and nine batteries. 
Early in the morning he hurled these against the position 
occupied by Banks, and a fierce battle ensued. Ewell, who 
was on the Front Royal road, had advanced and attacked the 
enemy behind stone fences. They resisted his advance with 
much gallantry. The enemy making a stubborn resistence 
about 8 o'clock, Jackson determined to throw a large body 
of troops on their right flank. They anticipated this move- 
ment and had strengthened their right, but a determined 
charge, made by Taylor's and Taliaferro's Brigades support- 
ed by the Stonewall Brigade, drove all before it. The 
enemy then gave way in every direction, and hurried 
through the streets of Winchester. Jackson dashed to the 
front, aglow with the sense of victory, and gave the com- 
mand to "Press forward to the Potomac. " As he rode by 
the Second Virginia Regiment, he passed close to one of the 
soldiers, Cleon Moore, who said: "General, you have won 
a great victory. " He instantly replied: "The victory is 
not mine, it is due to God." Jackson's men were too weary 



29 

to pursue for any great distance, and Banks made his escape 
across the Potomac. 

This defeat of Banks created the greatest consternation 
in the North. The number of Jackson's troops was greatly 
exaggerated. It was thought the whole Confederate army 
was moving on Washington. The administration called for 
additional troops, and all of the commands available were 
sent to Harpers Ferry. The intended march of General Mc- 
Dowell was countermanded, and he was ordered to send a 
large part of his army to the Valley. Fremont was recalled, 
and ordered to march to the support of Banks. It is even 
said the President wired McClellan he must attack Rich- 
mond at once, or bring his army to the defence of Washing- 
ton. Jackson had fallen like a thunderbolt upon Banks and 
driven him pellmell into Maryland. His success was com- 
plete. General Winder was sent with the Stonewall Bri- 
gade to Harpers Ferry. A large force of Federals had been 
assembled at Harpers Ferry under Saxton and a part of this 
army was encountered near Charles Town and routed. 
Ewell's Division was ordered to support Winder and by the 
29th Jackson's army was concentrated near Halltown in 
Jefferson county. Ashby was sent to watch Fremont in the 
direction of Wardensville, in Hardy county. Information 
was sent to General Jackson at this time that McDowell was 
advancing toward Front Royal and that Fremont was mov- 
ing east from Moorefield. T^^ere was nothing for him to do 
but fall back in order to escape destruction. Over 60,000 
men were assembling to attack him. Ordering his army 
back, he took the train from Charles Town to Winchester. 
When half way there, a courier dashed up, the train was 
stopped, and the message delivered that the Twelfth Geor- 
gia had been driven from Front Royal and that McDowell's 
advance guard was in possession of the town. Jackson 
coolly read the dispatch and tearing it up, ordered the man 
to return to his command. At this time Jackson estimated 



30 

his troops at 15,000. On May 30th the whole army of the 
Valley was on its march to Strasburg. The distance to be 
covered by Winder's Brigade was forty-nine miles. His 
march was undisturbed. Ashby impeded the march of Fre- 
mont and Shields remained inactive at Strasburg. The 
army during the afternoon of the 31st, reached Strasburg, 
but the Stonewall Brigade encamped near Newtown, the 
bulk of that command having marched twenty-eight, and 
part of it thirty-five miles in one day. On the morning of 
June 1st, Fremont had moved within six miles of Strasburg, 
but Ewell, moving out, checked his advance. Winder pass- 
ed through Strasburg at noon, and Jackson pursued his way 
toward Harrisonburg. His retreat upon that place was at- 
tended by no remarkable occurrence. Ashby protected his 
rear and by his order, burned the bridges over the eastern 
fork of the Shenandoah river, preventing Shields, who was 
advancing up the Luray Valley from crossing that river. 
In the short period of fourteen days Jackson had marched 
170 miles; had defeated and routed Banks, thrown the North 
into a state of consternation by a threatened invasion; had 
tolled McDowell away from McClellan's right; had paralyz- 
ed that General's plans and made his escape with immense 
stores, captured from the enemy. Converging upon his po- 
sition at Strasburg were over 62,000 Federal troops, while 
he had not in excess of 15,000 men. When General Jackson 
reached Harrisonburg on June 6th he turned the head of 
his column to the left and marched toward Port Republic. 
Fremont was in close pursuit and Shields was moving up on 
the east side of the Shenandoah river. 

Death of Ashby 

About two miles from Harrisonburg, General Wyndham, 
who had asked to be sent to the Valley to capture Ashby, 
charged in advance of the infantry. By a quick move- 
ment, Ashby cut him off and captured him and put his Brig- 



31 

ade to route. Going back toward Harrisonburg Ashby found 
the enemy in full pursuit. Several regiments of infantry 
were sent to him, and putting these into battle, he led the 
advance himself. While in close proximity to the enemy's 
line, calling upon the men to charge, he was killed instantly 
by a musket ball. The death of this brilliant officer brought 
grief to everyone in the Valley army. He had served with 
Jackson throughout the Valley campaign, and had become 
famous for his skill in handling his squadrons, for his reck- 
less courage, and for his superb horsemanship. He had 
been Jackson's right arm, furnishing him, by his restless 
vigilance, the most accurate information. That officer, in 
his official report, uses this language: "His daring was 
proverbial, his powers of endurance almost beyond belief, 
his character heroic, and his sagacity almost intuitive in 
divining the purposes of the enemy." 

Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic 

Jackson's army rested two days, when Fremont renewed 
his advance. Ewell's Division was held in readiness at a 
point called Cross Keys, while Jackson's Division was sent 
to meet Shields, who was rapidly advancing on Port Repub- 
lic. On June 8th, Fremont attacked Ewell, at Cross Keys. 
It was an unusual combat, Fremont having about two to 
one. However his attack on Ewell's position was repulsed. 
While he had been pursuing with a great deal of vigor, 
he seems to have lost his courage when he arrived in front 
of his enemy. He made no further attempt after the first 
attack. In the meantime. Shields had advanced to within 
a short distance of Port Republic. On the 9th the enemy 
made a cavalry dash into Port Republic, but were soon dis- 
persed. The Federal infantry had reached a point about a 
mile and a half below that place called Lewis'. Early in 
the morning the Stonewall Brigade marched through Port 
Republic and on towards Lewis' to meet the enemy. This 



32 

Brigade under General Winder consisted of about 1,200 men 
and two batteries. It was followed by the Louisiana Brig- 
ade under General Taylor. The enemy had formed his line 
with his left resting on the hill at Lewis' house and extend- 
ing across to the Shenandoah river. The Federals consisted 
of two Brigades and about sixteen guns, 4,000 in all. Seven 
of their guns were located on a commanding position at the 
Lewis house, the others scattered along the line. General 
Winder, with four regiments, 1,200 strong and two batter- 
ies made an attack. The enemy were commanded by Gen- 
eral Tyler, an excellent officer. General Winder attempted 
to drive off the batteries on the hill. In this he was unsuc- 
cessful and the enemy advancing engaged him at close quar- 
ters. The superior numbers of the enemy succeeded in driv- 
ing him back. At this time two of Ewell's regiments came 
on the field and endeavored to stem the tide. The Seventh 
Louisiana also came to Winder's assistance. Jackson find- 
ing the battle going against him, sent General Taylor with 
his Brigade to attack the enemy's left at Lewis' house. 
This he did in fine style.and driving them off captured their 
battery of seven guns. The enemy then beat a rapid re- 
treat, pursued by Jackson's men for seven or eight miles. 
He then withdrew and took up his march for Brown's Gap. 
Fremont relieved by Ewell's withdrawal advanced and shelled 
us from the east bank of the river. In the battle of Port 
Republic Jackson's army sustained serious loss. He had 
6,000 engaged and lost about 804. Of Taylor's strength 
about a fourth was killed, wounded and captured. Since 
Jackson left the Elk Run Valley on April 30th, he had marched 
nearly 400 miles, had fought four successful pitched battles, 
and not less than a hundred minor engagem.ents, had defeated 
four armies, captured seven pieces of artillery, 4,000 pris- 
oners and 10,000 stands of arms, carried off immense stores 
and stood ready to march to Richmond to aid in relieving 
the situation there. Fremont retired to Mount Jackson, 



33 

and Shields toLuray. The greatest result of this wonderful 
campaign was the relief it gave to the army at Richmond, 
by the diversion of McDowell's corps, which had been with- 
drawn to the Valley to protect the city of Washington. 

General Lee conceived the plan of strengthening Jack- 
son's force by the addition of Generals Lawton's six regi- 
ments, and Whiting's division, but the retreat of Fremont 
and Shields rendered unnecessary this addition to his army. 
The arrival of Lawton and Whiting, however, was loudly 
heralded throughout the Valley and every ruse was adopted 
by Colonel Munford, who had succeeded Ashby, to create 
the impression that an advance would be made down the 
Valley by General Jackson, with an army largely increased 
in numbers. General Jackson returned to the Valley and 
rested his troops for five days. At this time frequent com- 
parisons were made between Jackson's Valley campaign 
and Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Napoleon invaded Italy 
with 60,000 troops, holding out to the men the most tempt- 
ing promises of loot and plunder. After winning a brilliant 
victory at Montebello, he encountered the Austrians at Ma- 
rengo. He was badly beaten, and his army driven in a 
panic from the battlefield. He endeavored in vain to rally 
his men, and is represented as standing on a bank by the 
roadside, swishing the air with his riding whip, watching 
in despair his troops as they fled to the rear. The oppor- 
tune arrival of Desaix stemmed the panic, and a brilliant 
charge of cavalry made by Kellerman enabled him to defeat 
the enemy and win a great victory. 

General Jackson defeated his enemy in four pitched bat- 
tles, assailing him with largely superior numbers in all ex- 
cept one; marched incredible distances, and although four 
times his numbers were assembling to destroy him, made 
his escape without the loss of a wagon, and defeated on the 
8th and 9th of June, two armies pursuing him from differ- 
ent directions. 



34 

Von Moltke said the strategy employed by Jackson had 
never been surpassed, and Colonel Henderson used this cam- 
paign in his lectures as a model of military skill. 

Jackson Goes to Richmond 

On the 17th Jackson set his troops in motion to take a position 
on the left flank of the army under General Lee near Rich- 
mond. As he crossed the mountain it is said he paused on 
its summit and gazed upon the beautiful scene below him. 
A striking panorama was unfolded to his view. The Valley 
of the Shenandoah to whose people he was so devoted, lay at 
his feet, dotted with beautiful cities and towns and adorn- 
ed with fertile farms and comfortable homes. The Shenan- 
doah river, fed by rippling streams from the mountain, 
threaded its way through this far famed Valley. Modest as 
he was, he must have been conscious of the fact that his 
brilliant campaign had brought him a rich harvest of fame 
and that it would cause his recognition by all military crit- 
ics as a master of all that was skillful in war. Those who 
surrounded him at least recognized that his reputation as a 
soldier had become firmly established in the minds of people 
the world over, and that his brilliant genius had enabled 
him easily to "Climb the steep whence fame's proud temple 
shines afar." Turning his face to the east he manifested 
enthusiasm at the prospect of participating in great battles 
where large numbers would become engaged, and his staff 
and soldiers felt confident a brilliant career awaited him, 
that he would be borne by his commanding ability as a sol- 
dier to the very summit of human ambition, and would win 
for himself a reputation so great and so brilliant as to en- 
title him to a place and a record upon the brightest pages 
of the history of his country, emblazoned there in letters as 
bright and enduring as though in burnished gold. His army 
marching partly and for some distance transported on the 
railroad reached Frederick Hall on the 21st. General Jack- 



35 

son mounted his horse at 1 o'clock at night and accompanied 
by an orderly rode to Richmond, where he conferred with 
General Lee. General Longstreet, A. P. Hill and D. H. Hill 
were present at the interview. General Lee's plan of at- 
tack was explained to these officers. Jackson returned to his 
command the day following. Before leaving, the lady of a 
house nearby, who had invited him to breakfast, asked 
him at what hour she should have the meal ready. He 
replied: "At her usual hour." When the message was 
sent to him to come to breakfast, his servant said: "Lawd, 
you don't 'spect to find Marse Jackson here this mawnin'. 
He left here last night at 1 o'clock, and I reckon he is over 
in the Valley right now a whippin' the Yankees." The 
disappearance of Jackson from the Valley and his arrival at 
Richmond was unknown to the Federal generals in the Val- 
ley and to the authorities at Washington. The reports he 
and Colonel Munford had disseminated far and wide had 
deceived the enemy everywhere. It is said that General 
McClellan was skeptical about Jackson's presence, and 
was not convinced he was there until he appeared upon the 
flank and rear of his lines west of the Chickahominy. 

Battles Before Richmond 

Severe criticism has been made of General Jackson's fail- 
ure to take part in the battle on the day of the 26th of 
June. I think a fair explanation can be given why this 
great soldier, who always moved with such celerity and 
was so prompt always to attack the enemy, did not go to the 
aid of Longstreet and A. P. Hill on that date. 

General McClellan had established his base at the White 
House on the Pamunkey and advancing along the York 
River railroad to the vicinity of Richmond. He had located 
Fitz John Porter, with about 30,000 men west of the Chicka- 
hominy, and that officer had occupied Mechanicsville 
and extended his outposts as far west as Hanover courthouse. 



36 

General Lee conceived the plan of crossing the Chickahominy 
about Mechanicsville with the divisions of Longstreet, A. P. 
Hill and D. H. Hill; and these, v^ith Jackson's troops, were, 
in his own language, "to move en enchelon, the left division 
in advance, and sweep down the Chickahominy and endeavor 
to drive the enemy from his position above New Bridge, 
Jackson bearing well to his left, turning Beaver Dam creek 
and taking the direction towards Cold Harbor " General 
Lee thought Jackson's appearance on the right flank and 
rear of Porter on Beaver Dam creek, would cause that officer 
to fall back. Branch, with his brigade, was to cross at Win- 
ston's bridge and cooperate with Jackson. His appearance 
caused Porter to retire from Mechanicsville and A. P. Hill 
immediately crossed and without getting into communica- 
tion with Jackson, assailed Porter behind entrenchments 
with his 8,000 troops. This resulted in his repulse with 
severe loss. Porter having nearly four times his numbers. 
Jackson started from Ashland and marched that day sixteen 
miles to the neighborhood of Hundley's corner. He drove 
the enemy across Beaver Dam creek and went into camp at 
4:30 p. m. His march had been obstructed by burnt bridges 
and by continual opposition from the enemy. He was with- 
out competent guides and Dr. Dabney, one of his staff, who 
was with him, said not an orderly or message reached him 
during the entire day. This was a most difficult country, 
with dense woods, heavy undergrowth and full of swamps. 
Jackson heard the ffring three miles away, but it was too 
late in the evening to move through this diflScult country to 
the aid of A. P. Hill; besides his orders were to move in the 
direction of Cold Harbor, which was in the opposite direc- 
tion from the position of A. P. Hill. His appearance on 
Porter's right, caused that general to fall back at night and to 
take a position on Powhite creek, in front of Grapevine 
bridge. It was expected by General Lee that if McClellan 
was defeated, he would retire to his base of supplies at the 



37 

White House, and all of General Lee's instructions to Jack- 
son indicate that he wanted him to watch the line of Mc- 
Clellan's retreat and strike him, so as to drive him down 
the Peninsula, away from his base. Jackson's advance to- 
wards Cold Harbor had not disturbed Porter nor McClellan 
as seriously as it was expected, and the reason for this de- 
veloped on the 28th, when it was discovered that McClellan 
was retiring to Harrison's landing on the James River. The 
bridges having been uncovered during the first day's opera- 
tion, Longstreet and D. H. Hill crossed the Chickahominy 
and took up a position in front of Porter; Longstreet on the 
right, and D. H. Hill moving to the left to join Jackson. On 
the morning of the 27th Lee and Jackson met and had an 
interview. This is vouched for by Dr. Hunter McGuire. 
There can be no doubt General Lee gave General Jackson in- 
structions and Jackson was certain to obey. He always 
yielded loyal support to General Lee in whose judgment and 
wisdom he had unbounded confidence. 

On the morning of the 27th he moved in the direction of 
Cold Harbor. His march was interrupted by serious obsta- 
cles, and it was 2 p. m. before he reached that point. His 
position on the flank and rear of Porter seems not to have 
alarmed that general, because he was ordered, if defeated, 
to cross Grapevine bridge and retire toward Harrison's land- 
ing. The attack on Porter was made by Longstreet and 
Hill about 3 p. m. Jackson, expecting Porter to be driven 
in his direction, waited until he came to the conclusion the 
plan had failed, when he hurled his command against Por- 
ter's right, and by a combined attack all along the line, the 
latter was driven from his fortifications and across Grave- 
vine bridge. 

General Lee, still expecting McClellan to retire to the 
White House, sent General Stuart there to destroy the 
stores and ordered Jackson to send Early to take possession 
of the York River railroad and a crossing below, called Bot- 



tom's bridge. On the night of the 28th, it was evident the 
enemy was retiring to Harrison's landing with his entire 
army. General Lee sent the three divisions of A. P. Hill, 
Longstreet and Huger to pierce McClellan'sarmy, and on the 
evening of the 30th, assailed him at Frazier's farm. It 
would seem to have been his purpose to cut through his 
line of retreat, and clasp the main body of McClellan's army 
in a vice between Jackson's divisions and the divisions of 
Longstreet, Hill and Huger (leaving Magruder and Holmes 
to assail that part of the army that had passed,) to destroy 
McClellan's rear guard, or failing in this, to drive them to 
precipitate retreat down the Peninsula. This plan failed 
because, after a desperate and successful fight, darkness 
prevented Longstreet and Hill from driving the enemy be- 
yond the road over which they must retire, thus giving the 
Federal troops west of Glendale, an opportuniy to escape 
during the night. Jackson had great difficulty in getting 
over the Chickahominy and through the White Oak Swamp, 
because of the destruction of the bridges and the great force 
in front of him at these points. He has been criticised for 
not having marched to the aid of Longstreet and Hill, but 
had he done so, and McClellan been defeated, he could have 
retired to the White House over the Long bridge and made 
good his escape. I believe there is no doubt Jackson was fol- 
lowing out strictly the instructions given to him by his great 
commander. 

It is said by some that General Jackson was broken down 
physically and was not himself. The distinguished gentle- 
man who presides over this meeting today well remembers 
that he was up early on the 28th and looking to the assault 
of the enemy beyond the river. General Jackson had a 
habit of sleeping during the day. He would unbuckle his 
sword and leaning it against a tree, rest his head on his 
canteen, or a root of the tree, and fall asleep, and perhaps 
this gave rise to the impression that he was worn out physi- 



39 

cally. His army and himself had marched over 600 miles in 
ninety days, and it was not to be expected they would be as 
active and fresh as troops who had been in camp and com- 
fortable quarters. 

The enemy retired in the night of the 30th, and General 
Jackson's army moved to the front and pressed the retreat. 
There has also been some criticism of Jackson at Malvern 
Hill and some reflection on Lee's order to attack there. 
General Longstreet with great candor and generosity as- 
sumes the entire responsibility. In his book he says that 
"General Lee, feeling unwell, called him to temporary duty 
near him, and 7upon his suggestion he rode around the 
line to report on the feasibility of aggressive battle. He 
reported favorably and General Lee made disposition to at- 
tack. " General McClellan had covered Malvern Hill with a 
formidable ai ray of artillery, supported by the best part of 
his army. Our people to attack were compelled to pass 
through a swamp and climb the hill in face of a perfect 
flame of fire from artillery and small arms. 

There was little opportunity to use our guns effectively, 
and after frequent assaults, attended by great loss of life, 
the attempt to carry the heights was abandoned. The ene- 
my retired from Malvern Hill to the protection of his gun- 
boats, and the Confederate troops were withdrawn, and 
went into camp. 

Battle of Cedar Run 

General Jackson had. after the battle of Manassas, urged 
an advance into Maryland, and being thoroughly imbued 
with the wisdom of the movement, .after the seven days 
battle, he again urged that we should move into the enemy's 
country. He was at this time restless and anxious to be up 
and doing, and his desire to move west was gratified by in- 
structions on the 30th to move his troops to Gordonsville. 

An amusing story is told of General Jackson as he was on 



4-0 

this march. He and his staff found themselves behind the 
troops, artillery and supply wagons. The road was narrow, 
and it was impossible to get to the front. General Jackson 
said it was absolutely necessary to reach a point ahead at a 
certain time, and he ordered his staff to throw down the 
fence, and rode along the edge of the field. The field was 
in oats, and when they reached the far end, they were in 
front of the owner's house, who came forward and asked 
them in not very conventional language, what they were do- 
ing riding in his oats. He said: "You are nothing but 
commissaries or quartermasters, for no good soldiers would 
destroy private property," Addressing himself to Jackson, 
he asked his name. The general replied his name was Jack- 
son. "What Jackson? What is your full name? I am go- 
ing to report you to General Jackson." 

"Well," said the general, "They call me Stonewall Jack- 
son." 

The staff had all gathered around, much amused, and the 
owner suspecting something, asked General Jackson, "if he 
was Stonewall Jackson from the Valley?' 

"Yes, sir, I commanded in the Valley." 

The man immediately took off his hat, exclaiming: 

"Hurrah for Stonewall Jackson! Hurrah for Stonewall 
Jackson! Ride all over the damned old oats, general. 
Trample them in the ground. Do anything you like here, 
but get off and take a drink with me." 

After a great deal of persuasion, the general dismounted 
and took a drink with him — of buttermilk. 

He had with him about 11,000 men, while Pope's army 
numbered not less than 47,000. He immediately called for 
reinforcements. The division of General A. P. Hill and the 
Second Louisiana Brigade were ordered to join him. There 
was constant skirmishing between the outposts of Jackson's 
and Pope's armies. Shortly after Jackson was sent to Gor- 



41 

donsville, McClellan was ordered back to Washington. Pope 
ventured to advance with his army and reached Culpeper 
courthouse on Aug. 6th. General Jackson determined to 
advance and engage the enemy and on Aug. 7th was at 
Orange courthouse. General Jackson at this time had 
about 24,000 men, while Pope was supposed to have an 
army of 50,000. Banks was in advance and his force and 
Jackson's came into collision at Cedar Run on the 9th day 
of August. We will not enter into a description of this en- 
gagement. It is sufficient to say that after a severe battle 
General Jackson threw a part of his army on the right 
flank of the enemy. The Stonewall Brigade aided by Archer 
and Pender shattered the right of the Federal army and 
drove them in great confusion from the field. He pursued 
for several miles but encountering a strong reserve deter- 
mined to withdraw, and fell back to his former position at 
Gordonsville. 

Pursuit of Pope 

General Lee being informed of McClellan 's withdrawal 
from the Peninsula moved with his army to Gordonsville 
leaving the divisions of D. H. Hill and McLaws at Rich- 
mond. A high ridge known as Clark's mountain arises 
abruptly from the Valley 'north of Culpeper and runs south 
breaking up into low ridges toward Orange courthouse, and 
Gordonsville. Pope was encamped on the west side of the 
mountain, six miles south of Culpeper. Lee took a position 
east of the mountain, Pope was supposed to have 53,000 men 
while Lee's army, according to General A. L. Long, was lit- 
tle less than 65,000. General Lee held a council of war on 
the 15th and it was then determined to attack on the 18th. 
A brigade of cavalry, which was expected to reach the 
army by that time had turned to the left and gone to Louisa 
courthouse for provisions. General Stuart riding out on the 



42 

road to Fredericksburg reached the village of Verdiersville. 
He and his staff dismounted and observing cavalry ap- 
proaching from the east, supposed it was the advance of 
Fitz Lee's Brigade. Instead it turned out to be the enemy 
who had been sent on a raid in that direction. They made 
a charge upon Stuart and his men and that general very 
narrowly escaped capture. He, however, got away with the 
loss of his hat, but one of his staff was captured and with 
him a paper disclosing General Lee's intentions. Against 
the urgent advice of General Jackson, the movement was 
deferred until the 20th, General Longstreet insisting in the 
absence of the cavalry it was not safe to make the move, 
and also urging that it might be better to pass around the 
front of Pope's army and attack his right flank. How we 
were to keep Pope's eyes closed and prevent him from dis- 
covering the movement was not suggested. He had 5,000 
cavalry under the command of capable officers. It is said 
that General Jackson was so much disturbed when they con- 
cluded to defer the attack he groaned aloud. General Lee's 
attention was called to what was deemed disrespect on the 
part of Jackson, but his groan was doubtless due to the fact 
that he saw slipping away from us one of the greatest op- 
portunities the Confederacy had ever had to destroy an 
army. Pope discovered from the captured papers the situa- 
tion of Lee's army, and commenced to retreat at once. When 
we advanced on the 20th he had made his escape and all 
we bad to attack was his rear guard between Culpeper 
and Brandy Station. Had it been possible to act in accord- 
ance with General Jackson's plan. General Lee with 65,000 
men, with his two able corps commanders present, would 
have intervened between Washington and Pope's army, and 
I think it would be easy to predict the result would have 
been a complete destruction of the Federal army. Before me 



43 

I observe many veterans or the vi^ar in this audience, and I ask 
them w^hatthey think w^ould have happened with Lee, Jackson 
and Longstreet and the 65,000 troops they commanded formed 
in line of battle facing South, aw^aiting the attack of Pope with 
his 53,000 men. I feel sure you will agree with me that we 
should have killed, wounded and captured the whole of them, 
which would have avoided the necessity for Jackson's great 
march to Manassas, and the terrible battle fought near that 
place. P pe's army destroyed and McClellan's defeated 
would have opened the way for the uninterrupted march of 
Lee's army into Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Long- 
street himself was so impressed with the probable outcome 
if we had attacked on the 18th, he said in his book that the 
march of the cavalry brigade to Louisa had disarranged our 
plans and lost the fortunes of the Confederacy. Perhaps he 
was more severe than he would have been but for the fact 
that General Fitz Lee in his history of his uncle criticised 
several of his movements during the war. 

Pope,having escaped across the Rappanhannock river, Lee 
marched up its left bank. At this time Stuart made a bold 
dash on the rear of Pope's army, reached his headquarters 
and came near capturing Pope himself, who ran from his 
tent, leaving his hat and coat. Among other things, he se- 
cured a number of official papers, and from these General 
Lee ascertained the strength of his army and from his cor- 
respondence inferred his despondency about his ability to 
cope with the Confederate army. 

Jackson's March to Manassas and Battle Near There 

Lee immediatelv determined to throw Jackson around 
Pope's rear, and ordered him to move on Manassas. On 
Aug. 25th, Jackson commenced his famous march. His 
troops knew they were in for an exhausting tramp, but 
went forward cheerfully and in good humor. Passing 
through Thoroughfare Gap, Jackson turned to the right, 



44 

and marched to Bristoe Station. Leaving Ewell there, he 
took the rest of his corps to Manassas Junction. Immense 
stores were gathered here for the supply of Pope's army. A 
brigade was sent out from Alexandria to attack him, but 
met with a warm reception and retired. Among the cap- 
tures were eight pieces of artillery, ten locomotives, two 
railroad trains, and a million dollars worth of stores. The 
men feasted on every imaginable good thing, and after sup- 
plying themselves with all they could carry, the balance of 
the stores was given to the torch. General Pope, advancing 
upon General EwelFs position at Bristoe, that officer fell 
back to Manassas which was evacuated that night. It was 
a great blow to Pope, when he found the stores upon 
which the subsistence of his army depended had been de- 
stroyed. Sending Hill's division on the road to Centerville 
to mislead Pope, General Jackson marched with the balance 
of the army to a position near the village of Groveton, 
where he rested his right, his left being near Sudley's Ford. 
General A. P. Hill joined him there. General Pope, deceiv- 
ed by Hill's march to Centerville, followed, while some of 
his troops took the direct route from Gainesville toward 
that place. They were assailed by Jackson, as they passed 
in front of his line, a bloody engagement ensued, in which 
General Ewell lost his leg, and General Taliaferro was 
severely wounded. General Longstreet, in the meantime 
had forced his way through Thoroughfare Gap on Aug. 29th. 
Jackson had posted his men in an abandoned railroad cut, 
and occupied a very strong position. His purpose was to 
detain Pope until General Lee arrived. General Sigel, form- 
ing his line of battle in front of him, commenced a move- 
ment in our direction about 5:15 a. m. on the morning of 
the 29th; and at 7 o'clock made an attack. This, however, 
was repulsed by Jackson's men. 

This attack was made with three divisions of Germans, 
supported by Reynolds. About 10 o'clock the attack was re- 



45 

newed and aRain repulsed with great loss. Pope arriving 
on the field at 1 o'clock, ordered an assault by Hooker and 
Reno. This charge was effective to the extent that they 
broke through the Confederate lines, but General Jackson 
by a fortunate counterstroke drove them back again. Again 
at 3 o'clock an attack was made by Grover's Brigade of 
Hooker's division. This brigade made an impetuous charge, 
swept 0\^er the railroad track and drove back our troops upon 
the second line. Jackson, an eye witness to the charge, sent in 
the Louisiana Brigade with an extra regiment and charged 
them with the bayonet. Other troops went into the fight, 
and Grover was driven back with a loss of at least one- fourth 
of his number. At 4:30 Pope renewed his attack with the 
divisions of Reno and Kearney. This attack was successful 
and the Federal troops penetrated several hundred yards be 
yond the Confederate lines. Early's Brigade supported by 
a part of Lawton's division was thrown forward and charg- 
ed the enemy with the bayonet. The line swiftly melted 
away. Longstreet had now arrived on the right of Jackson's 
position. General Lee sent instructions to him to attack to 
relieve the pressure on Jackson's line. After exam- 
ination of the Federal position, he reported to General Lee 
the attack he proposed at that point was not inviting. Had 
he ridden along Jackson's line, he would have discovered 
that there was nothing especially inviting about the position 
he had held and which with greatly superior numbers had 
been assailed by the Federals since 7 in the morning. Col- 
onel S. D. Lee located sixteen guns near Groveton and enfi- 
lading the lines of the enemy afforded great relief to Jack- 
son. Hood also with two brigades was advanced against 
tne Federal left, and thus relieved the pressure on Jackson's 
front. During a lull in the battle, it is told by an eye wit- 
ness. General Jackson walked down the line and although 
the Federal sharpshooters had been firing constantly, for 
some inscrutible reason, no shot was aimed at him. Dr. 



: 46 

McGuire says he remarked to the General after this day's 
battle : "This has been a day of nothing but stark and stern 
fighting." General Jackson replied: '*It has been won by 
the blessing and protection of Providence." The command 
of Jackson'had lost heavily by forced marches and the terri- 
ble slaughter in this battle. It is said his troops and those 
of Longstreet brought Lee only about 55,000 men. Pope's 
army according to the most reliable information I can find, 
amounted on the morning of the 30th to 65,000 troops, with 
about thirty batteries. The following morning, there was 
evidence the enemy intended to attack again. Twenty 
thousand men again charged upon Jackson s position while 
behind them at least 40,000 men were forming in readiness 
to go to their support. Pope had the impression the Con 
federates were retreating but suddenly, to his surprise, 
Jackson's command hurried forward to take possession of 
the embankment. The Federals were met by a withering fire 
from the Confederate ranks, and after three desperate 
charges, fell back in confusion. The soldiers had piled 
stones on the railroad track, and when their ammunition 
gave out, rolled them down upon the heads of the Federals. 
About 4 o'clock General Longstreet's corps was set in motion 
and overlapping Pope's lines on the left, charged with great 
spirit. General Lee ordered an advance along the whole 
line. His whole army moving like a machine, swept the 
enemy before it. The genius of Lee had triumphed and 
his army, full of enthusiasm, pressed forward to certain 
victory. Jackson's men, released from the assault of 
superior numbers charged with loud cheers and irresis- 
tible energy. Night coming on, terminated the bat- 
tle. During this fight a brilliant charge was made by the 
Second Virginia Regiment, under Colonel Munford. Colonel 
Munford himself and the commanding officer of the Federal 
cavalry were both wounded by sabre cuts. Three hundred 
Federals were taken prisoners, nineteen killed, and eighty 



47 

wounded. It was a battle sabre to sabre. Pope retired 
from the field and sought a position on the heights of Cen- 
treville. In the morning, Jackson restless and energetic, ad- 
vanced and fought the battle of Chantilly. 

Pope's army, utterly demoralized, fell back toward Wash- 
ington. Colonel Henderson, in his admirable history says: 
''With an army that at no time exceeded 55,000. Lee had 
driven 80,000 men into the fortifications about Washington; 
captured thirty guns, 7,000 prisoners, 20,000 rifles, and 
many stands of colors. He had killed and wounded 13,000 
Federals, destroyed supplies and materials of enormous 
value, and ail this with a loss to the Confederate army of 
about 10,000 officers and men, and all in ninety days. The 
brunt of this great battle of Manassas was borne by Jackson, 
and his defence of his position there against enormous odds 
is without parallel in the history of war." 

Maryland Campaign 

On Sept. 2nd, Jackson was ordered to cross the Potomac 
river. The whole of Lee's army was put in motion for 
Frederick, Maryland. Turning to the left, Jackson was in- 
structed to surround Harpers Ferry, and capture the garri- 
son there. 

Driving General White from Martinsburg, he closed in 
upon Harpers Ferry. In the meantime McLaws had been 
sent to the Maryland heights, and Walker to the Loudoun 
heights, and Jackson, forming in front of Bolivar, a fire of 
artillery was opened in all directions. On the 15th the ene- 
my surrendered to Jackson, 12,500 prisoners, 13,000 small 
arms, and seventy-three pieces of artillery. An order of 
General Lee, directing the march of his troops, was 
captured by McClellan. He commenced to press the 
pursuit of Lee's army with great vigor. Lee after a 
severe fight at Boonesboro and at Turner's gap, fell back 



48 

and formed line of battle west of the Antietam, a stream 
flowing into the Potomac river above Harpers Ferry. Jack- 
son leaving the arrangement of the details of the surrender 
at Harpers Ferry, to General Hill, made a forced march, 
and placed himself on the left flank of Lee's army on the 
morning of the 16th. 

McClellan had sent Hooker to take a position opposite our 
left, with a force of 13,000 men. These were supported by 
Mansfield with a corps of 8,000, McClellan 's plan being to 
crush the left wing of Lee's army. Stonewall Jackson was 
there with two divisions, numbering 5,500 men. At five in 
the morning, Hooker commenced his attack and by 7:30 had 
been wounded and his command shattered. Sumner said 
when he came on the field, he could find nothing of this 
corps, and next morning only 500 men could be assembled 
out of Hooker's entire force. After Hooker's defeat, Mans- 
field with 8,000 troops advanced to the attack. These were 
old foes of Jackson's command, a number of his Brigades 
having fought in the battles in the Valley. This corps with 
the aid of Hood's two brigades after several charges was 
driven back with great slaughter, Mansfield being killed 
and his troops routed. About 9 a. m. Sumner's corps of 
18,000 men advanced to the attack, but by this time Jackson 
had been reinforced by Walker and McLaws, and three of 
D. H. Hill's brigades under Anderson. Jackson by a skillful 
counterstroke assailed the left flank of this command and 
in a few minutes demolished it. It is said in a few mo- 
ments time 2,000 men of Sedgwick's division bit the dust, 
Jackson commenced an advance, but had not pushed far, 
when he encountered a division of the Sixth corps and find- 
ing it impossible to continue his I'harge against these fresh 
troops withdrew to the position from which he had advanc- 
ed. This was about 11 o'clock in the morning. Dr. McGuire 
says he approached General Jackson, who was eating some 
green fruit and seeing nothing but a skirmish line, asked 



49 

him wherethe army was, and what he could do if the ene- 
my advanced again. Jackson replied quickly: "They have 
done their worst, sir, they have done their worst. " General 
Stuart with the Horse artillery under Pelham supported for 
sometime by Early's brigade, guarded the extreme left of 
the Confederate line, and from a well selected position pour- 
ed a destructive fire into the right flank of the enemy. The 
battle from this time rolled off toward the South, and Jack- 
son's line was free from assault for the balance of the day. 
Lee remained near Sharpsburg all next day to receive an 
attack, but McClellan declined battle, and on the night of 
the 18th, the troops were withdrawn across the Potomac. A 
considerable force pursued, but were attacked by Jackson 
with A. P. Hill's division, and driven back across the river. 
No battle in all history was more stubbornly contested- 
Jackson's entire force at first only amounted to 5,500 men, 
and with the reenforcements he received later, only reached 
18,000. The troops opposed to him, including a division of 
the Sixth corps, amounted to more than 40,000 men, and yet 
although fighting without entrenchments, and with little pro- 
tection except rock breaks and a strip of timber, he destroyed 
the corps of Hooker; defeated and demoralized the troops of 
Sumner and Mansfield. His losses, of course, were very 
great. General Lee, commenting upon this battle, said that 
here and during his advance, his opinion of Jackson had 
been greatly enhanced, and about this time, when he reor- 
ganized his troops into two corps Jackson was put in com- 
mand of the Second corps, with the rank of Lieutenant Gen- 
eral. McClellan was removed and Burnside succeeded to 
the command of the army of the Potomac. Lee fell back to 
Fredericksburg, and Burnside took possession of the heights 
on the opposite side. 

Burnside concluded to attack Lee's position, held along 
Marye's heights by Longstreet, with Jackson stretching east 
to the Rappahannock river. Our lines were assailed again and 



50 

again, but the enemy was repulsed with great slaughter 
and after failing to make an impression retired across the 
river and went into winter quarters. 

Winter Quarters Near Fredericksburg 

Jackson established himself in a small office building on 
the Corbin estate about ten miles south of Fredericksburg. 
He busied himself here with his official reports and was of- 
ten visited by distinguished people. His absolute simplicity 
and aversion to anything like spectacular effect, was ob- 
served by all. The fame of this great soldier had spread 
far and wide, and it is safe to say that no man who ever 
commanded an army enjoyed more the confidence of the 
troops and their warm admiration and affection than this 
simple soldier. General Lee said of him, he was the great- 
est subordinate any general ever had, while Jackson esteem- 
ed his great commander so highly as to say that he was **a 
phenomenon, and was the only man he was willing to follow 
blindfold." Henderson says of him that he was the great- 
est Lieutenant General in all history, and compares him 
with Ney, of whom Napoleon said "his presence on the bat- 
tlefield alone was worth 20,000 men, "but as that historian 
says, while Jackson was as effective on the battlefield, creat- 
ing the utmost enthusiasm by his presence, he was greatly 
superior to Ney in this, that he could plan and execute a 
campaign marked by brilliant strategy, which was beyond 
the powers of the great French Marshal. A distinguished 
English officer who visited him at this time said, "Instead 
of an untidy old man, he saw before him a tall, handsome 
and powerfully built, but thin person, with brown hair and 
brown beard; his mouth indicating great determination; 
his eye dark blue with a keen searching expression. In his 
manner he was thoroughly simple and unaffected." I have 
seen Jackson since described as a rude, rough man, which 
from my experience is flagrantly unjust. Lord Wolsley said 



51 

of him that "while reticent about military operations, he 
found him proud of his soldiers and enthusiastic in his ad- 
miration of General Lee. He could never make him talk of 
his own achievements. His manner was modesty itself, and 
most attractive." He was usually grave and had no gift 
for light or animated conversation. Jackson possessed a 
great ability for intense concentration of his mental facul- 
ties, and it seemed to me that above all the men I have ever 
seen, he possessed the great gift of making up his mind. 
After surveying all the conditions surrounding any en- 
terprise he contemplated, he decided upon the course he 
would pursue and moved to its execution with inexorable de- 
termination. There are few men who have settled upon any 
purpose who cannot have their convictions altered. Almost 
all men will change their views, but this great man, after 
he caine to a conclusion, held to it with a firm and fixed 
purpose. It might be possible to change the minds of others 
but Stonewall Jackson never. He seemed to be able to look 
into the future and divine the intention of his enemy, and 
by careful and vigorous application of his powerful mind, 
seemed able to foresee what the enemy's movements and ac- 
tions would be and provide for all contingencies. His soldiers 
had for him a most enthusiastic admiration. He never ap- 
peared along his line but that he was received with vocifer- 
ous cheers. Some persons have claimed that he was devoid 
of ambition, and was guided in all his actions by an exalted 
and refined sense of duty. I believe Jackson was full of 
ambition to succeed as a great and accomplished soldier. 
This in no way detracts from the symmetry of his character, 
because no man can excel in a profession whether medicine, 
law, divinity or war, unless he has a laudable desire to reach 
the highest distinction. 

Jackson, rather careless in appearance under ordinary cir- 
cumstances, in battle straightened himself to his full height 
and with face flushed and eyes blazing, seemed full of 



52 

fire and spirit. Many stories are told exemplifying the 
boundless affection the people and soldiers bore him. It is 
said that on one occasion, when very thirsty, he rode up to 
a yard and observing a well, asked a lady for a drink of 
water. She got a pitcher, filled it with water and gave it 
to the general. Observing the respect with which he was 
treated, she asked one of the staff who he was. After he 
informed her, she hurried into the house, and leturned with 
a bucket and dipper and gave the members of the staff each 
a drink. When she reached the officer who had told her it 
was General Jackson, he asked her why she took the pitcher 
back. She answered: ''General Jackson drank out of that 
pitcher, and no one else during my life shall ever touch it." 

He was considered by many Northern soldiers their most 
formidable, daring and skillful foe, and when they discov- 
ered Stonewall Jackson in their front, it served to strike 
terror to their hearts. To illustrate the boundless faith in 
him, extending to every class of people throughout the 
South, a story is told of General Grant when directing oper- 
ations in the Wilderness in 1864. It was said Grant was 
riding behind his lines and observing a young fellow plow- 
ing in the field he reined in his horse, and asked him his 
name. The young man told him. The general then asked 
what he was doing. The man replied: "Trying to raise 
some corn to feed our family, myself and my horse next 
winter." General Grant was riding off when the young man 
asked him: "You have asked my name, can I know yours?" 

Grant replied: "They call me Grant." 

"What Grant?" 

"General Grant." 

"Are you the general commanding that army over there?" 

"Yes, sir, I am the man." 

"Well, general, I would like to ask you a question, where 
are you going?" 

"Well," replied the general, "That would be hard to tell. 



53 

I may be going to Richmond, I may be going to Petersburg, 
I may be going above," pointing with his hand, "or, I may 
be going the other way." 

"You can't go to Richmond," said the young man, "be- 
cause General Lee is down there; you can't go to Peters- 
burg, because General Beauregard is there; I know you 
can't go to Heaven, because Stonewall Jackson is up there; 
you may go below, for I never heard of a Confederate officer 
or soldier being in hell." 

General Lee, after the first day's battle at Gettysburg, 
rode along Seminary Hill, and from an eminence swept the 
hills opposite with his glasses. When his glance reached 
Little Roundtop, he paused, and with his unerring judgment 
discovered that there was the key to the Federal position. 
He indicated to General Longstreet he wanted an attack 
made early in the morning from that direction. Opposite 
his position until 8 o'clock next morning there were 40,000 
troops under Hancock, 20,000 of which had been badly beaten 
the day before, and their brilliant commander. General 
Reynolds killed. He had under his command 65,000 troops, 
flushed with victory. Next morning he sat awaiting an at- 
tack from his right, and watching division after division 
of the Federal troops marching on Cemetery Hill, taking 
their position in line of battle. It was not until 3 or 4 
o'clock in the afternoon the battle began on the right. "It 
was too late: someone had blundered." No one can doubt 
had this attack been made early in the morning, the Federal 
troops would have been swept from the field and driven pell- 
mell back upon Meade's army. After the war, when he be» 
came President of Washington College, and had taken up 
his residence in your city, he remarked to a friend: "Had 
I had Stonewall Jackson at Gettysburg, I would have won a 
great victory and established the fortunes of the South. " 
During his stay at Fredericksburg Jackson attended re- 
ligious services regularly. When he was made a professor 



54 

at the Virginia Military Institute, he became a member of 
the Presbyterian church and entered upon the performance 
of his religious duties with the same zeal and energy he dis- 
played in military operations. He was deeply interested in 
the Sunday schools, both white and colored, often contribu- 
ting to their support. 

The odds against which Jackson fought, and the odds which 
General Lee encountered have never been overcome by any 
general in modern warfare. It is said Wellington retired 
from the presence of Marmont in Spain on an occasion, 
numbers being equal, because the French Marshal was be- 
ing reinforced by 4,000 cavalry. Think, you who are famil- 
iar with the great battles fought in Virginia, at Antietam, 
and at Gettysburg, of Lee or Jackson retiring from the 
presence of Pope, Hooker, Meade, or McClellan because of a 
reinforcement of 4,000 men! Napoleon was frequently de- 
feated when outnumbered by the enemy. He fought the 
battle of Aspern with 100,000 troops against an equal num- 
ber of Austrians,was badly beaten, the brave Lannes killed, 
and was driven back to the Island of Lobau in the Danube. 
Summoning his troops from every direction, in thirty days 
he had gathered in all 225,000 men, recrossed the river, and 
attacked the Archduke Charles who had augmented his 
force to a 150,000. The battle went against him throughout 
the day and he was compelled to ride on his white horse, 
Euphrates, in front of his lines and expose himself reck 
lessly to encourage the wavering troops. Late in the day 
Davoust, who had been sent to attack the right flank of the 
Austrians, reached his position and doubled up the flank of 
the enemy. When his guns were heard, the famous charge 
of McDonald was made, and the Austrians were driven from 
the field. This battle, although Napoleon had an excess of 
75,000 men, hung in the balance all day. It must be remem- 
bered he fought against inferior nations, the French being 



55 

at that time the most intelligent, alert people on the Con- 
tinent. 

Lee and Jackson were called upon to encounter troops of 
the same nationality, armed, equipped, fed and paid as no 
troops hav^ ever been in all the history of war. It might 
be well to observe here that these Federal soldiers were 
well officered, mainly by graduates of West Point. There 
were McClellan, Burnside, Pope, Hooker, Meade. Grant, 
Hancock, Sedgewick, Slocum, Sykes, Reno, Reynolds, Sum- 
ner, Franklin and Porter of the infantry, and Bayard, Pleas- 
anton, Stoneman, Gregg and Wilson of the cavalry. Some 
persons have been disposed to sneer at the troops of the 
army of the Potomac, but we are reminded that that army, 
after hard and subborn fighting in front of Richmond, was 
defeated in the Seven Days' battles and driven in confusion 
to Harrison's Landing; that Pope's army at Manassas was 
thoroughly defeated and yet McClellan was able to reorgan- 
ize these troops, demoralized to a great extent by their 
numerous defeats, and march them out in seventeen days 
after Manassas to fight the battle of Antietam. It would 
be absurb to say they were not fine soldiers and well officer- 
ed, and in the main well led. Lee and Jackson on the other 
hand, had the finest soldiers the world has ever seen. The 
best men of the South went into the army, many of them 
into the ranks. No troops ever fought with the same dash, 
the same stubborn courage as did those of the army of 
Northern Virginia. They had been accustomed to outdoor 
exercise, to the use of the gun, and from early youth had 
been trained to the handling of the horse. They had 
had the finest Christian training. There was scarcely a 
home, on the farm, in the village or in the city that was 
not presided over by a Christian mother, who taught her boy 
from early childhood the great truths of the Christian re- 
ligion and as he grew in statue and expanded in intellect, 
guided him to an intimate acquaintance with the great 



56 

precepts of the Bible, and caused him to stand in awe of 
the stern mandates of divine authority. But the fine mate- 
rial of which they were composed would have availed little 
against the enormous odds they had to encounter except for 
the marvelous genius of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jack- 
son. God imparted the ethereal spark to the minds of these 
great soldiers enabling them instantly to discover and 
sieze an advantage upon the battlefield. The immense mass 
of the Federal army was unable to cope with the intelligence 
and courage of the Southern soldier, as some Northern General 
once called them," those invincible Southern soldiers, "when 
guided and directed by the matchless skill of these two 
greatest generals ever associated in the defense of any cause. 

Battle of Chancellorsville 

General Hooker, who was called "Fighting Joe Hooker," 
because of his great dash displayed in the army of the 
West, and who came from that section with a brilliant rep- 
utation, had been placed in command of the army of the 
Potomac. He had under him 130,000 troops, amply supplied 
with all the munitions of war, while Lee could muster less 
than 50,000 men. Longstreet had been ordered to Suffolk, 
Va., with the understanding he was to come to Lee when- 
ever called for. 

There has been some dispute as to whether Longstreet 
was ordered to join Lee. In his book "Bull Run to Appo- 
mattox," he says General Lee repeatedly wrote to him to 
bring his troops to Fredericksburg. The absence of this 
army corps placed Lee at a great disadvantage in his subse- 
quent operations. General Lee had sent Colonels Long and 
Venable to examine the North Anna river to ascertain if 
there was a suitable position there for a battle. These offi- 
cers reported adversely and Lee determined to await calmly 
in his position the movements of the enemy. On April 30th, 
Hooker crossed at Germanna, Ely's and the United States 



57 

Fords and concentrated around Chancellorsville. Sedgwick 
had crossed below Frederickbsurg with 35,000 men. Lee 
prepared for the attack from Chancellorsville and sent An- 
derson and McLaws and shortly afterwards Jackson to meet 
Hooker, who was advancing toward Fredericksburg. Bear 
in mind that Fredericksburg is only ten miles from Chan- 
cellorsville. When Jackson reached Anderson's position he 
found him fortifying. He immediately advanced upon 
Hooker, and a serious engagement ensued, but to the am.aze- 
ment of Lee and Jackson, Hooker withdrew his troops and 
fortified around Chancellorsville and east to the Rappahan- 
nock river. Why he should have fallen back has always been 
an enigma to everyone. He was in an advantageous posi- 
tion on the flank of Lee's army, with an immensely superior 
force. He expected the Confederates to retire toward Rich- 
mond, but when he confronted our army advancing upon 
him, the courage seemed to ooze out of his fingers ends, 
and he became appalled at the prospect of meeting Lee and 
Jackson. Before starting he had said: "The Confederate 
army is now the legitimate property of the army of the 
Potomac. They may as well pack their haversacks and make 
for Richmond, and I shall be right after them." When Lee 
reached his position in front of Chancellorsville, he found 
Hooker had thrown up the most formidable fortifications. 
He sent his engineer oflficer to examine the right and he 
went over the left of Hooker's line himself. His officers re- 
ported an attack in front impracticable, and General Lee 
immediately began to plan some way to turn the position of 
Hooker. He sent for Reverend Dr. Lacy, who had been a 
pastor of a church near Chancellorsville, who told him of a 
road by which he could reach Hooker's right flank. There 
has been some controversy as to whether Lee or Jackson 
planned the battle of Chancellorsville. There can be no 
doubt that either of these great generals could have planned 
this battle, or any other involving the exercise of the high- 



58 

est genius, but we should endeavor, in treating of battles and 
campaigns to get at the historical truth. General Lee 
settles this question in a letter written from Lexington to 
Dr. A. T. Bledsoe of the Southern Review. Long says these 
two generals met at 10 o'clock p. m., and had a consultation. 
General Lee said to General Jackson: "How can we get at 
these people?" Jackson replied: "You know best. Show me 
what to do, and I will try to execute it." Lee then tracing 
a route on the map before him, explained the movement he 
desired Jackson to make and told him Stuart would cover 
his march with his cavalry. It is said Jackson's face light- 
ed up with a brilliant smile, and rising said: "My troops 
will move at 4 o'clock." 

Early on the morning of the 2nd, Jackson's corps of about 
24,000 men started on its famous march by way of Cathe- 
rine Furnace. Hooker discovered the movement of troops 
in his front in the direction of the furnace, and concluded 
it meant a retreat of the Confederates. He sent two divis- 
ions of Sickle's corps and Pleasanton's cavalry toward Cath- 
erine Furnace to ascertain what the movement meant. 
An engagement took place, and Hooker sent Birney's and 
Whipple's divisions to assist Sickles. Jackson, informed of 
this movement which threatened to separate the two corps, 
sent the Brigades of Archer and Thomas to support Colonel 
Brown's artillery, and Lee with part of Anderson's division 
assailed vigorously Sickle's left flank. It might have been 
prudent for Jackson to pause when his rear was assailed, but 
he lost not a moment, and during the day riding along his 
lines, gave the command constantly: "Press forward men, 
press forward!" The distance he had to traverse from 
where he left Lee to where he formed his line of battle was 
fifteen miles, and although the heat was intense and the 
dust stifling, he reached there by 2 o'clock. General Fitz 
Lee, who was in front with his cavalry, says in his history 
of Lee that he discovered Howard's troops lounging about. 



59 

cooking, smoking and playing cards. Riding back he led 
Jackson to a spot where he could see them. It is said Jack- 
son gazed with intense interest at Howard's men. He sent 
a courier to General Rhodes who was in front, with instruc- 
tions to form in line across the old turnpike, a road leading 
from Fredericksburg to Orange courthouse. Amazing as it 
may seem, there was no sufficient picket, either infantry or 
cavalry to guard the right flank of Howard's corps. What 
outposts there were, were driven in by Lieutenant Colonel 
Breckenridge of the Second, under the direction of Colonel 
Munford, who rendered material aid to Jackson in locating 
the position of the enemy. At 4 p. m. Jackson commenced 
forming his lines across the old turnpike. Rhodes was in 
front, Colston supporting him at 200 yards, and A. P. Hill's 
troops composed the third line. By six o'clock the line was 
formed as Jackson desired. He, at this time occupied the 
remarkable position of being astride with his army the road 
over which a large part of Hooker's army had marched to 
Chancellorsville. He was upon the flank and rear of that 
army. 

When ready for his line to advance, he said: "You can 
go forward, General Rhodes," and the blast of the bugle 
sounded the signal and was repeated by bugles all along the 
line. The entire command sprang forward as rapidly as 
they could make their way through the brush, and the first 
indication the Federals had of the approach of the hardest 
fighter in the Confederate army with his invincible corps, 
was the flight of the game of the forest into their midst. 
The troops soon struck the right of Howard's corps, put it 
to flight and pressing forward, kept them on the run, and 
soon the right flank of Hooker's army was completely de- 
molished. The battle was pressed with vigor until 8 o'clock 
when the troops had become intermingled while making 
their way through the woods and undergrowth, and General 
Jackson called a halt to reform his men. 



60 

General Lee and General Jackson had not been satisfied 
with defeating the enemy and driving them back beyond 
the Potomac or Rappahannock. They knew full well that 
with our ports blockaded and our resources diminishing, it 
would be impossible to maintain a protracted war. What 
they wanted and hoped to accomplish was to kill, wound and 
capture an entire army, to annihilate it; and with this pur- 
pose in mind, Jackson rode with his staff beyond our lines 
in order to ascertain the direction of the road and lay of the 
ground. About one mile from Chancellorsville was a little 
village called Bullocks, situated not far from where the road 
to the United States Ford enters that running to Ely's ford. 
Jackson was intent upon seizing this point in order to cut 
Hooker off from his retreat by way of these two fords. His 
army had driven the enemy to within three-fourths of a mile 
of that village, and with that point in his possession Hook- 
er's army would have been penned in between Lee and 
Jackson, and its destruction would have been inevitable. 

Wounding and Death of General Jackson 

Turning to go back to his lines, he and his staff were 
mistaken for Federal cavalry and fired upon by Lane's 
North Carolina Brigade, inflicting three wounds upon his 
person. He was carried away to the hospital. He seemed 
next day to be resting easier, after the amputation of his 
arm, and hearing the boom of the cannon, manifested the 
deepest interest in eveything that occurred. General Stuart 
had taken command of his corps, and General Lee had as- 
sailed Hooker and driven him from his fortifications, but 
was compelled to take part of his troops to repulse Sedg- 
wick, who was pressing upon his rear with 35,000 men. 
Had Longstreet and his corps been there, he could have 
united with Early and taken care of Sedgwick, while Lee 
could have completed the destruction of Hooker's army. On 
the 5th General Jackson was removed to a house near 



61 

Guinea's station. No man appreciated more fully than did 
General Lee the great loss to the army in the disabling of Jack- 
son. "Give him my affectionate regard," was the message 
conveyed to him, "and tell him to get well and come back as 
soon as he can. He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my 
right. Any victory would be dear at such a price. I know not 
howto replace him. ' ' He bore his great suffering with resigna- 
tion, and was deeply touched when informed by his Adju- 
tant General that the soldiers of the army were praying for 
him. Pneumonia attributed to a cold he had contracted, and 
a fall from the litter as they bore him from the battlefield, 
coupled with his wounds, caused his death on the 10th of 
May. He died with perfect resignation, saying when told 
of his approaching death: "It is good. It is good. It is 
all right." Much of the time he was lying upon his death 
bed, his mind was wandering, but in his lucid moments, his 
thoughts seemed to take their flight to the realms oflight 
and glory, where angels arrayed upon Heaven's sublime ram- 
parts, with outstretched hands, bade him a cordial welcome 
to the celestial camping grounds. And those of us here to- 
day who have seen him sitting in his tent, revolving in his 
mind the mighty problems referred to him for solution, or 
mounted upon his horse, riding into the danger, heat and 
blaze of terrible battle, can easily portray to the mind's eye 
the appearance of this great warrior, as he approached the 
portals guarding the entrance to the undiscovered country, 
was admitted, and passing on, paused under the shadow of 
the arch, beyond, where with all above him aglow with the 
brilliant rays of the Sun of the Heavens, and all round and 
about him illumined with the gorgeous light of a New 
Era, a New Dispensation, after calmly surveying the beau- 
tiful scenes before him, was doubtless permitted to fasten 
his gaze upon a spot of celestial beauty, prepared for him 
by a great, good and just God, where repose and comfort, 
peace and contentment, became his lasting reward, his eter- 
nal heritage. 



62 

The fall of this great and good man sent sorrow to the 
heart of every soldier of the army of Northern Virginia, 
and 7,000,000 people throughout the South went into 
mourning. He remains enshrined, as he will ever be, in 
the hearts of a great and chivalrous people. He flashed like 
a meteor across the military firmament, his brilliant genius 
and noble character gaining for him a fame and reputation 
that will endure forever. 

"A hero came amongst us as we slept, 

At first he lowly knelt— then rose and wept: 

Then gathering up a thousand spears 

He swept across the field of Mars, 

Then bowed farewell and walked beyond the stars." 

Cadets at New Market 

As General Jackson was riding on his march around Hooker 
he turned to Colonel Munford and said: "The V. M. I. will be 
heard from today." His army was largely commanded by 
graduates of the Virginia Military Institute, and many sub- 
ordinate commanders were there. Wherever they served 
throughout the army of the South, their conduct on the bat- 
tlefield was such as to do honor to this great institution, and 
lend fresh and additional lustre to the name and the fame of 
the American soldier. On May 15, 1864, the corps of cadets 
from the Virginia Military Institute immortalized themselves 
on the field of New Market. Aligning under fire, they ascended 
the eminence on which the Federals were posted, as though 
on dress parade, and with marvelous decision and courage, 
charged into the midst of their lines, capturing a piece of 
artillery, aiding largely in putting their foes to flight. Al- 
though strangers to the dangers and perils of war, they stood 
the shock of battle like veterans. Who knows but that the 
example of Jackson furnished them inspiration in this at- 
tack, unsurpassed for dash and dauntless courage in all the 
annals of war? 



63 

Conclusion 

The remains of this beloved general rest here in your 
beautiful city, and it is a remarkable coincidence that the 
tomb of Robert E. Lee is here also. Jackson's pure and 
beautiful life was ended abruptly. He had observed through- 
out life his duty to himself, his family, his state and to his God. 

He was a Christian without fanaticism, a Christian in the 
open; one who did not hesitate in the presence of assembled 
thousands to pause on the eve of some great enterprise and 
raise his hand aloft, invoking the blessing of divine Provi- 
dence upon his efforts and those of his soldiers. He rose 
superior to human infirmity and was proof against the temp- 
tations of this life. 

It might be said of him with truth: He was greater than 
Caesar, who with 22,000 legionaries won upon the plains of 
Pharsalia a brilliant victory over Pompey, the chosen leader 
of the Republic, commanding 50,000 of the finest troops of 
Greece and of Imperial Rome; greater than Bonaparte with 
his brilliant victories of the Pyramids, Marengo, Jena, and his 
crowning triumph upon the field of Austerlitz; greater than 
Marlborough, most brilliant of the English Generals, who 
swept across the face of Europe with his army, and with a 
single blow at the battle of Blenheim, annihilated the French, 
and brought peace and repose to the distracted councils of 
the Contihent; greater than Wellington, who successfully 
encountered in Portugal and Spain three of the greatest 
Marshals of France, Soult, Massena and Marmont, and later . 
won the great battle of Waterloo and consigned to permeKa»t 
exile the greatest, the most ambitious and the most restless 
spirit of all time; greater than anyone of these, for the reason 
that while his strategy was as brilliant, his tactics as affec- 
tive, he had achieved a victory that could be accorded to no 
one of these great commanders, he had made himself com- 
plete and absolute master of himself. Possessed of perfect 
poise of mind and temperament, his character adorned with 



64 

every moral and manly attribute, and endowed with every 
Christian virtue, presents a beautiful an^I glowing example 
worthy of emulation by all the men of ourcoantry and espec- 
ially by our ambitious and aspiring youths, slimalating them 
in time of peace to great and noble purposes and to generous 
undertakings, and in time of war, prompting them to a line 
of conduct in the camp, on the march and upon the battle- 
field that will enable them to win for themselves imperishable 
honor and to couple their names with deeds of renown. We 
shall witness with awe and reverence the unveiling of this 
monument, the handiwork of the celebrated artist. Sir Moses 
Ezekiel, a distinguished graduate of the Virginia Military 
Institute, the foremost sculptor of his country, but at the 
same time we shall be mindful that the great and good man 
to pay homage to whom we are assembled here today, by his 
own exalted character and great achievements, erected a 
monument that finds its foundations broad and deep in the 
great heart of the people of t he South; a monument that rears 
its majestic head aloft until it pierces and penetrates the 
very skies above, and will stand forever a convincing evidence 
of the triumph of virtue, courage and genius. 



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